The Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State warned Deborah Archibong mother of a student of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, Don-Davis Archibong, who was allegedly sexually assaulted, to desist from making comments or posting any material on the issue on social media, lawyers told journalists on Wednesday.
The Akwa Ibom State Police command had arraigned seven persons including minors in connection with the alleged sexual molestation and maltreatment of one Don-Davis Archibong, a student of Deeper Life High School, Idoro, Uyo, two weeks ago.
They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit Felony to wit: indecent treatment of boys under fourteen and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 556 of the criminal code, cap.38, Vol.2. Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.
The minors were charged for unlawfully assaulting Don-Davies Archibong punishable under section 218(1) of the Criminal code, cap.38, vol.2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000, including section 362(1) of the Laws of Akwa Ibom State.
Prosecution lawyer David Okokon told reporters after the court sitting that at the first appearance in court on January 6, 2021, the plaintiff was warned against making social media comments on the issue since it was in the court.
Journalists were barred from covering court proceedings on Wednesday.
Mr Okokon said it was standard practice for journalists to be disallowed from covering cases involving minors.
“Procedurally, since it was a juvenile court, journalists were not allowed to observe the proceedings. A juvenile court deserves a jurisprudencial privacy it has,” he said.
Counsel to the defendant Nojin Tairu said; “At the end of the proceedings you will have all the fact and all that transpired in the court.”
The case was adjourned to February 10, 2021 for continuation of hearing.
