Family petitions Akwa Ibom CJ over murder of son, release of suspect on bail

The family of late Itoro Anietie John of Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has petitioned the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ekaette Fabian Obot, over the murder of their son in cold blood.

In the petition jointly signed by the mother of the deceased, Ekaette Bassey Jim, his wife, Imaobong Itoro Anietie-John, and the brother, Johnson Anameti, and obtained by our correspondent in Uyo on Friday, the family expressed worry that the murder suspect, Enefiok Mark Stephen, the Youth President of the community, was granted bail in a “liberal term”.

The family, in the petition titled, ‘Demand for justice in the murder of Mr Itoro Aniete John, by Mr Enefiok Mark Stephen’, explained that the case was properly investigated by the police, and charged to court.

They, however, expressed sadness over the handling of the matter by the Etinan High court, which they accused of hurriedly granting bail to the suspect on presentation of a “fake medical report”, despite the objection by the prosecutor that the suspect should be remanded in custody while a medical examination is conducted in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

The family appealed to the Chief Judge to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served and the culprit made to face the wrath of the law, to avoid a situation where he would constitute a threat to the deceased’s wife and children listed in the case.

Parts of the petition reads, “My Lord, we represent the family of the deceased Late Mr. Itoro AnietieJohn who was brutally murdered by Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen and his gang in cold blood on the 12th day of November, 2023 and the matter was investigated by the police and the suspect was promptly charged before Etinan High Court by the police in charge NO HET/IC/2024.

“The murder case was taken over by the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State through the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the 11th day of March, 2024.

“That the case was adjourned to 22 April, 2024 for the police to transfer the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution on the said day the court was informed that the case file has been transferred to the DPP.

“It was on that said day that Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen filed a motion on notice and served same on the state and the matter was adjourned to 29th April and on the said day the State filed its counter affidavit and served same to the Applicant’s Counsel.

“My Lord, on the same 29th day of April, 2024, the learned counsel to Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen filed another summons to admit him to bail and attached a medical report to the application and the state asked for a reasonable time to confirm the veracity of the medical report but the court adjourned the matter to Thursday 2nd May, 2024 for hearing of the bail application and the state filed à counter affidavit informing the Honourable court that Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen is not sick that the state would sponsor another test at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital to counter the medical report presented by the applicant.

“The court adjourned the matter to Monday 6 May 2024 and granted bail to Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen in a very liberal term in a murder charge.

“It is on record that the said Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen has jumped bail before in case of terrorism and he is known for threatening witnesses in his cases.

“The family is not happy the court hurriedly granted bail in a murder case.

“We are asking for His Lordship intervention to ensure that Mr. Enefiok Mark Stephen do not escape from justice and maim the listed witnesses in this case.”

Mrs Jim, narrating the circumstances that led to her son’s death in an interview with our correspondent in Uyo, said that the suspected killer of her son had been threatening to deal with him after he led police officers to arrest him from his hideout in his house over a crime he committed in the community some years ago.

She said after several unsuccessful attempts on his late son’s life, he (the suspect) was able to get him on a Sunday after luring him to accompany him to cut bamboo trees for staking of Afang leaves, common leaves grown and eaten in the area.

The woman, who spoke amid tears, alleged that her late son’s hands were tied together before he was beaten and matcheted to death by his attackers, whom she said have returned to threaten the deceased’s wife and children.

She also pleaded with the CJ to reassign the case to another judge as the family has lost confidence in the judge handling the matter.