A MAGISTRATE Court sitting in Owerri, capital of Imo State, and presided by Mrs. Victoria Isiguzo, at the weekend discharged and acquitted the Imo State Government House Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere and 18 others on a five-count charge of attempted murder, conspiracy and unlawful assembly.

Delivering her verdict, Isiguzo said that there is no “substantial evidence” from the prosecution to prove the case against the accused persons. They were consequently discharged and acquitted.

On April 1, some aggrieved youths allegedly intercepted the convoy of then governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim in company of former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, throwing packaged water on them.

Later, Madumere, then Chief of Staff to Rochas Okorocha Foundation, and 19 others, including a 13-year-old were arrested at different locations and detained in police custody for 21 days.

They were charged in May. Unfortunately, one of the accused persons, 43-year-old Mr. Friday Uzoma, died shortly after he was released from detention.

Isigozu said although the offence for which the accused were prosecuted is punishable under Section 32, Sub-section 1 of the Criminal Code on conviction, she could not find any substantial evidence to nail them.

Reacting after the ruling, lead counsel to the accused persons, Prof. Francis Dike, regretted that the discharged persons suffered injustice, adding that in some societies, the state would have paid compensation after discharging them.He promised to champion a cause where the innocent is not punished.

Reacting, Madumere said he has forgiven those who arrested and prosecuted them. He said that the state is working to ensure that both Police and the Ministry of Justice would ensure that any arrested person is either charged to court within 72 hours or released as applicable.

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Jun 18 2011. Filed under Governors, Imo, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry