Magistrate Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital has warned parents of the abused 11-year-old student of Deeper Life High, Idoro Uyo to stay off the social media.
The Magistrate’s warning followed a complaint by the lawyer to the school, Fidelis Igwe.
The court presided over by Winifred Umohandy gave the warning Thursday when police arraigned seven accused people before the court for trial.
“Let the media stay off, let the court do justice on the merit of the case,” the Magistrate was quoted as saying.
Before now, Deborah Okezie Archibong had been using Facebook to fight against the purported molestation of her child, Don Davies Archibong in the school.
Though Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel had directed the then Education Commissioner, Enobong Mbobo to investigate the matter, the child’s mother later protested in the social media that the commissioner and some members of the church intimidated her during a panel inquiry.
Based on this, the State Executive Council handed over the matter deemed ‘criminal in nature’ to the police for thorough investigation.
At first, the Akwa Ibom Police Command arraigned the seven accused before the court on Wednesday, but due to the absence of the magistrate it was shifted to Thursday.
At the resumed sitting, the Chief Magistrate granted the seven accused of the offence bail, warning the mother to stay off social media.
Reacting to the warning, Deborah Okezie said Chief Magistrate in Uyo, Winifred Umohandy, her warned her against discussing her son, Don Davis’ case on social media.
On Friday January 8, Deborah informed her Facebook friends, fans and supporters she would no longer discuss her son’s case on the social media site, apparently in obedience to the magistrate’s instruction.
She said in the live broadcast “Good afternoon, beautiful people! Please, I want to beg everyone, the matter is in court, we are not going to discuss anything here pertaining to the matter, let’s allow the court to handle it.”
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