Child def!lement: Court discharges Man after spending five years in Prison
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Tuesday, discharged one Mr Uchechukwu Okoro of an allegation of child defilement after five years in incarceration.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, who discharged Okoro, struck out the case for lack of diligent prosecution in line with Section 232 1 (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2021.
The judge upheld the objection of defence counsel, Mr Ben Abraham, to the prayer of Lagos State counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, for further adjournment of the case.
Oshodi held that prosecution failed to produce vital witnesses throughout the proceedings.
He added that the investigating police officer failed to appear before the court, even after a bench warrant was issued.
Oshodi said that the defendant had been in custody since 2019 without trial.
He, therefore, discharged him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okoro, who was arrested on May 19, 2019, was aged 26 years at the time. (NAN)
