Anthony Iwuoma
Five armed robbery suspects were on Monday freed by an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, due to lack of evidence after spending nine years in the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, Lagos State.
According to the presiding judge, Justice Adenike Coker, the office of the Lagos Sate Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), had issued a Notice of Discontinuance due to non-viability of the case.
“By the powers conferred by the Honourable Attorney-General pursuant to Section 71(1)(2) and (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law and vide his letter to this court dated May 18, 2020, he has directed that the prosecution discontinue the proceedings herein against these defendants,” Justice Coker said.
“The effects of this continuance by the Honourable Attorney-General are that the defendants be discharged, but not acquitted. They are also to be released immediately.
“In the light of the foregoing, this court hereby orders that this case is hereby struck out and the five defendants are hereby discharged and to be released immediately from prison custody accordingly”.
The lucky quintet are Ramon Ganiyu, Alex Azubuike, Yusuf Maboreje, Sanya Adetunji and Akeem Akintoye.
They were facing 15-count charge filed against them by the state.
The prosecution, led by Mr. A.M. Adetokunbo, alleged that they had committed the offences sometimes in July 2011 in the Bariga area of Lagos State.
