Discharge
Abuja, March 19, 2018 (NAN) An FCT High Court in Apo on Monday dismissed the culpable homicide filed by the police against one Uchenna Ugwuiro.
The judge, Justice Bolaji Belgore, in his ruling, discharged the defendant for want of diligent prosecution.
Belgore held that since the arraignment of Ugwuiro on March 7, 2017, the prosecutor had been absent and had not opened his case.
The judge said that the matter had been adjourned eight times since arraignment but the prosecutor showed up in court only twice.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Victor Oziugbe, had told the court that the prosecutor had been persistently absent in court.
According to him, it appears that the prosecution is no longer interested in the matter.
He urged the court to dismiss the case in line with section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Ugwuiro 27, of Karmo, had on March 7, 2017 pleaded not guilty to a count charge of culpable homicide.
He was alleged to have poured petrol on one Ifeoma Okwor and set her on fire in July 27, 2015.
The offence contravened Section 221 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
ATO/OFN/MNA
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Maureen Atuonwu