The arrest of Mr. Itoro Monday Uko in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has been ordered by the High Court in Uyo for contempt of court.
Itoro Uko is accused of leaving his wife and their two-year-old daughter in the village to live with his girlfriend in Ikot Ekpene Town.
Following the absence of the accused and his Counsel, Justice Ntong Ntong, the presiding judge, issued the order after hearing from Barrister Ekom Friday Inwang, the Counsel for the applicant and mother of the child.
The applicant, a private school teacher from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, informed the court that aside from neglecting his duties as a father to provide for his child, Itoro Uko failed to repay a N200,000 loan she had obtained for him to repair his car in March 2022.
She disclosed that their marriage, which took place on January 18, 2020, was marred by domestic violence, leading to her suffering a miscarriage during her second pregnancy due to her husband’s physical abuse.
She further testified that during her third pregnancy, the abuse continued, resulting in her being hospitalized for three nights in May 2022 due to complications. Her husband didn’t show up during her hospitalization, and her medical expenses were covered by her siblings.
Upon her recovery on July 4, 2022, she visited her husband’s family home but found the locks changed and was unable to access her belongings or those of her child.
It was revealed that Mr. Itoro Uko had multiple extramarital affairs since the birth of their first child, despite efforts to change his behavior.
Due to the persistent abuse and risks to her safety, the applicant sought refuge with her parents in Mkpat Enin on the advice of her in-laws.
The applicant’s Counsel requested the court to order the arrest and detention of Itoro Uko for violating the court’s order issued on April 6, 2023.
Justice Ntong granted the request, instructing the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police and the Divisional Police Officer, Ikot Ekpene Division, to arrest and detain Mr. Itoro Monday Uko, and present him in court on Thursday, April 25, 2024, for further proceedings.