Stories by Donald Iorchir
A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, yesterday discharged a 20-year-old local boxer, Taofeek Abdulganiu, charged with criminal conspiracy for lack of diligent prosecution.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Albert Maga, discharged the accused after the prosecutor failed to produce witnesses to testify in the matter.
He said: “The prosecutor had failed to produce more witnesses, six months after the accused was arraigned, and the police had failed to apprehend the other conspirators, Tinkana Musa and Maibos Usman, said to be at large.
“Although the prosecutor brought one witness to court, since then, he has failed to bring the other ones as promised.
“The investigating police officer (IPO) has not shown any seriousness in the prosecution of this case as he hardly appears in court.
“I hereby discharge the accused and the police could return to court if they are serious about prosecuting the matter.”
The police had, on June 12, charged the accused of Gidan Bola Orange Market, Mararaba, to court over alleged criminal conspiracy and being in possession of a stolen car battery.
The prosecutor, Mr Friday Adaji, had told the court that a team of police detectives led by Sgt. Usman Lawal, attached to ‘A’ Division Police Station Mararaba, arrested the accused.
Adaji, a police constable, said the accused was arrested at Orange Market Mararaba, in possession of a Toyota car battery, suspected to be stolen.
The accused had denied committing the offence.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 97 and 319 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
