TheCable

A magistrate court in Wuse zone 2, Abuja, has discharged four out of six protesters arrested in November for demonstrating outside the national assembly.

Olutosin Adeniji, Abdusalam Zubarur, Paul Akinwumi, Devour Chomo, Yasidu Bashiru and Kabiru Garzali were arraigned on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, inciting public disturbance and public nuisance.

They were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 after being remanded for four days.

At the resumed trial on Monday, Henry Akwaji, counsel to the defendants, prayed the court to dismiss the case following the continuous absence of the prosecution.

Citing Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Akwaji said the absence of the prosecution counsel showed lack of diligent prosecution.

Musa Eneye, the magistrate, agreed with the defence counsel.

However, noticing the absence of two defendants, Yasidu Bashiru and Kabiru Garzali, the magistrate inquired about their whereabouts.

Responding, the lawyer said they fell ill and were receiving traditional treatment in Kaduna.

The magistrate noted that there was no medical report to support the claim of ill health.

Consequently, he gave an order discharging the four other defendants.

“That the defendants, Olutosin Adeniji, Abdusalam Zubarur, Paul Akinwumi, and Devour Chomo, are discharged and the complaint against them dismissed,” Eneye ruled.

He adjourned the case till March 24 for hearing on the remaining two defendants.