An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday discharged and acquitted a 38-year-old plumber, Anthony Bello, charged with stabbing a man with a knife at a football viewing centre
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Mojisola Dada discharged and acquitted Bello of the two-count charge of murder and unlawful assembly after the prosecution failed to establish the ingredients of the offences against him.
Dada held that the prosecution failed to prove the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt as the police did not carry out an investigation into the case.
“The prosecution witnesses two pw2) testified before the court that the deceased was stabbed with a knife and he died on the spot but that the knife was not seen and there was no autopsy on the deceased.
“They did not identify the grave and there was also no visit to the crime scene.
“There is no sufficient and compelling evidence against the defendant.
“The case of murder and unlawful assembly has not been established against the defendant.
“The defendant is discharged and acquitted on the two-count charge,” the judge said.
The prosecution alleged Bello stabbed one Onome Uchenunu to death at a football viewing centre.
The prosecution called two witnesses during the trial while defense also produced two witnesses.
The offence was allegedly committed on January 23, 2012, and the defendant was arrested six years later.
NAN reports that the defendant was seen crying in the dock while the judge was delivering the judgment.
