The Police in Anambra, on Wednesday, arraigned a septuagenarian, Albert Eligbue, for allegedly maltreating a widow in Awka.
Eligbue, 75 and native of Atani in Ogbaru, allegedly forced the widow to drink water used to bathe a corpse.
The Police arraigned him before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Onyema Ayogu, told the court that the defendant forced a widow and sister-in-law, Mrs Patricia Eligbue, to drink water used to wash the corpse of her late brother-in-law.
He allegedly asked her to drink the filthy water as proof of her innocence over the death of the brother-in-law.
He said the incident happened at Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.
Ayogu said the defendant is facing a five-count charge including conspiracy to commit felony and assault.
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The offences are punishable under sections 495(a) and 190 of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol. 11 revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
Ayogu also said the septuagenarian forcefully ejected the widow from her matrimonial home.
He said this is an offence under section 11(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection (VAPP) Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017.
The defendant was also charged with verbal, emotional and psychological abuse, an offence punishable under section 16(1) of the VAPP Law of Anambra state of Nigeria, 2017.
Eligbue pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs Genevieve Osakwe, however, granted N500,000 bail to Eligbue with a surety to be the Traditional Ruler or President General of Atani community.
Osakwe adjourned the case till June 7.
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