20-yr-old suspected killer of UNIJOS student goes dumb in court, feigns insanity

20-year-old Moses Oko who was arrested in January 2022  for the murder of Jennifer Anthony, a 300-level student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) reportedly went dumb in court when he was led into the witness box to commence his trial.

Moses was arrested on January 12, 2022, after the decapitated body of Jenifer who is believed to be his girlfriend was found in a hotel room with the vital parts of her body missing. It was learned that the deceased had been lured to the hotel by the suspect, who spiked her drink and proceeded to kill her for alleged rituals purpose.

Following his arraignment at the Plateau State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice S. P. Gang, the suspect who is also a student of the University of Jos was said to have acted dumb and incoherent when called to the witness stand. He reportedly refused to walk on his own, as he appeared not to understand what was going on, and had to be helped to the witness box by the correctional officer that brought him to the court.

On reaching the witness box, the court clerk called his name to know if he understood the English language or Hausa language, so as to know how to administer the oath for him, but he did not respond and instead kept starring at the court without uttering a word. The dramatic scene left everyone baffled as the court clerk called him several times but he did not respond.

The lawyer representing the suspect in his explanation claimed that his client was not mentally stable because the weight of the charges slammed on him was too heavy for him to bear. However, the prosecution counsel argued that Moses’s medical record showed he was of sound mind and had just been seen communicating with his parents and lawyer in English language before his case was called up.

The case was adjourned to the 3rd and 4th of March, 2022, for hearing.