Magistrate jails man for feigning ignorance of English

 

A 36-year-old man, Leonard Nzekwe, has been ordered to be remanded in prison for pretending not to understand English language.

Nzekwe had said he did not understand English when a criminal charge of assault was read to him.

He had said he wanted to be spoken to only in Igbo language.

When the court further asked if he could understand pidgin, Nzekwe said he did not understand that either.

The action prompted the magistrate, Mrs M.O Tanimola, to order him to be taken to the Ikoyi Prison, pending when he would show readiness to answer to the alleged crime.

The defendant had been arraigned before the court for assaulting one Vivian Chukwuneme.

The charge reads, “That you, Leonard Nzewe, on February 8, 2014  about 9am at 11, Ajalah Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did assault one Vivian Chukwuneme, by severally beating her up.”

The police prosecutor, Inspector  Samuel Ishola said the offence was punishable under Section 168(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The decision of the defendant not to take his plea stalled the proceeding, leading to his remand in prison. No date was fixed for adjournment.