Collage photo of Jennifer Anthony and the suspect, Moses Oko.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The trial of Moses Oko, the 20 years old boy suspected to have killed Jennifer Anthony who was a 300L student of the University of Jos has began in Jos.
The accused allegedly killed the victim in a hotel room in Jos, her body was discovered on January 1st, 2022 as he made his way out of town but was apprehended by security agents in Benue State.
At the time he was paraded at the Police headquarters in Jos, he was acting funny, claiming innocence. The drama continued on Monday when he was arraigned at a Jos High Court before Justice Paul Gang.
He was brought to the court at about 9.20 am by officials of the Correctional Service. While awaiting the mention of his case, he was joined by some members of his family. His case file was called at about 10:15 am.
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The prosecuting counsel, Barr. N. Jesse while announcing appearance said the case was for arraignment.
Counsel to the defendant, Barr. Alex Mulleng also announced his appearance and readiness to commence the trial but the suspect refused to utter any word when the trial commenced as he failed to respond to the court Clerk who tried to administer the oath to him.
His counsel, Alex Mulleng told the court that his client is mentally unstable, saying, “My Lord, my client has been showing unstable mental conditions of recent. This is probably because of the weight of charges slammed on him by the prosecutor. You know, considering his age, it was difficult for him to bear such heavy charges and that probably is responsible for his strange behaviors.”
But the prosecuting counsel N. Jesse argued that the defendant and his counsel were acting a scrip stating, “My Lord, it is obvious that my learned colleague and his client are just staging a drama. How will the suspect suddenly become dumb and deaf when everyone saw him talking with his parents and his lawyer a few minutes ago?
“My Lord, you overheard them talking with him and you had to call them to order a few minutes ago. So, how come someone you saw talking five minutes ago suddenly became dumb? The medical examination carried out on the suspect in a hospital by medical doctors shows the suspect was in perfect mental condition. The evidence of his medical report is in the case file before the court.”
The defense counsel however said, “The mental conditions of my client as the court can see goes contrary to the medical report. My client is seeing different kinds of spirits from time to time, and that has made his mental state fluctuate.”
The presiding Judge Justice Paul Gang ruled that the case file before the court shows the suspect is in stable mental conditions, saying, “From the record before this honourable court, there is no report of abnormality. The statement of the defendant before the court also confirmed to the court that the defendant is in the right senses, as such the trial will commence accordingly.”
The court then ordered the Clark to read out the charges to the defendant.
The charges, “mischief and culpable homicide” were read to him and the court asked if he was guilty or not but the suspect remained mute. The charges were repeated but he still said nothing. The court thereafter adjourned the case to the 3rd and 4th of March for a hearing while the suspect remain in prison.
