Court acquits man accused of robbing policeman’s spouse of N31,000

NAN-H-68
Acquittal
By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) An Ikeja High Court has acquitted a 33-year-old man, Azeez Akinremi, accused of robbing a policeman’s wife of N31,000 and two mobile phones.
In his judgment, Justice Sedotan Ogunsanya found Akinremi not guilty of a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery because the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“According to Section 135 (1) of the Evidence Act, the burden of proof relies on those who affirm it and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
“Looking at the case by the prosecution, there was heavy reliance on the evidence of eyewitnesses.
“They were able to prove that the brother of the policeman was a vital witness, the prosecution was to call him as a witness but they did not.
“Rather, they gave excuses that the policeman’s brother has moved to Ikorodu.
“This is not a good excuse as Ikorodu is just 30 minutes away from the jurisdiction of this court and as a result, the defendant was not positively identified by the prosecution.
“The prosecution has failed to prove the charge against the defendant; he is, however, discharged and acquitted,” he said.
The State Prosecutor, Mr Adebayo Haroun, had alleged that Akinremi committed the offence with others now at large at 3am on July 23, 2011 at No. 9, Adeshina St., Idi-Oro, Mushin Lagos.
“Akinremi and his accomplices went into the home of Mrs Sherifat Adebayo, a food vendor and the spouse of Mr Saheed Adebayo, a policeman attached to Isheri Police Station, to rob.
“After threatening her with guns and machetes, they stole N31,000 and two mobile phones from her,” he said.
According to the prosecutor, the policeman’s brother, Ibrahim, said that he knew the identities of three of the alleged robbers.
“The next day Saheed and his brother enlisted the help of some mobile policemen who went to the neighbourhood where Akinremi was known to frequent.
“They arrested him on the accusation that he was one of the robbers,” he said.
In her testimony during the trial, Sherifat said she could not see the alleged robbers properly because her bedroom was dark and a torchlight was flashed in her face.
“I could not see the face of the man holding the torchlight but I could see the person behind him,” she said.
Akinremi had testified that he played no role in the alleged robbery.
“I had nothing to do with the robbery, the day I was caught by the policemen, I had gone to a canteen to eat when they beckoned at me.
“When I approached them, they arrested me, beat me up and accused me of being an armed robber,” he said. (NAN)
MAE/OIF/WOJ
(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo / Wale Ojetimi)