Enugu – The Enugu East Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded Ezekiel Ozoemena, an ex-convict, 39, of Enugu East Local Government Area in prison custody for alleged burglary.
The accused, who admitted he was an ex-convict and pleaded guilty to one-count charge bordering on burglary, was arrested for breaking into Solomon Okwor’s house.
He told the court that nobody pressurised him to plead guilty to the charge brought against him, adding that he left the prison about four months ago before the present matter came up against him.
The accused person said that he had no lawyer to defend him and also had no question for the witness, who testified against him.
Ozomena said that he was not found inside but behind the complainant’s house where he was looking for a way out of the village as he was taken into the bush where he was beaten up by some suspected criminals.
The police prosecutor, ASP Peter Eze, told the court that the matter was reported at the Central Police Station, Enugu by the complainant on March 3.
Eze said that the accused had not spent up to three months since coming out of prison before he committed the recent offence.
“Even if he is released from this particular case, he would definitely commit another offence,“ the prosecutor said.
When the matter came up for hearing, the witness, Sgt. Michael James told the court that he knew the accused.
He said that the accused had been sentenced to a prison before having been found guilty of armed robbery and snatching a car belonging to the Igwe of Igbo Etiti.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr D. Ekoh, said that Ozoemena’s family would have hired a lawyer for him were it not for his questionable antecedents.
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He added none of Ozoemena’s family members appeared since the matter was brought to court.
Ekoh adjourned the matter until Aug. 23 for further hearing. (NAN)