A High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has ordered the remand of a Nnewi-based traditional medicine practitioner, Ikechukwu Ezenagu, popularly known as Muomiri Afuluanya, at the Amawbia Correctional Centre.
Justice Jude Obiora issued the ruling on June 3 after listening to arguments from both the defence and prosecution in the ongoing case.
Ezenagu was brought to court from a hospital facility, where he had been receiving treatment, and his counsel, Kingsley Awuka, applied for bail on medical grounds, requesting that he be allowed to remain in the hospital until the next adjourned date.
However, the application was strongly opposed by the prosecution counsel, Tobechukwu Nweke, who urged the court to keep the defendant in custody pending the determination of the bail request.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Obiora held that a medical facility could not serve as a legal detention centre for an accused person.
“A hospital is not a constitutional place of detention for a defendant,” the judge stated.
He subsequently directed that the defendant be transferred to a correctional facility and adjourned the matter to June 19 for continuation of hearing.
The case was initially scheduled for arraignment on April 23 but could not proceed after the court observed that Ezenagu was medically unfit to take his plea at the time.
During that earlier appearance, the defendant was visibly weak and required assistance from security operatives to enter the courtroom, raising concerns about his health condition.
Justice Obiora had then ruled that the accused should receive medical attention before facing trial, leading to an adjournment.
Ezenagu was arrested on March 26 by operatives of the Anambra State security outfit, Agunechemba, over allegations linked to violations of the state’s Homeland Security Law.
Following his arrest, security personnel reportedly carried out a search of his residence in Nnewi as part of ongoing investigations into his activities.