A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lokoja on Thursday struck out a case of cheating filed against a clergyman, Samson Abiodun, for lack of diligent prosecution by the police.
The police charged Abiodun, General Overseer, Calvary Love Ministry Church, Lokoja, with cheating on May 9, 2018.
Chief Magistrate Beatrice Ezema, in her judgement, struck out the case outrightlly for what she described as ”lack of diligent prosecution” on the side of the Police.
Ezema expressed dismay and disgust over the manner the prosecution handled the case.
She said the matter has been heard by five other Magistrates including herself over four years now, yet nothing tangible had been done about it.
“One amazing thing about this case is that it has been lingering on from the time of my learned colleagues, Levi Ndah-Animoku, O. Alupka, A.O. Ayiniwero, H.O.Haruna and now my very self, yet it is still at the hearing stage.
“Surprisingly too, today, when the matter came up for hearing, the prosecution Counsels were still saying that they were not ready to continue with the hearing.
“This goes to show the lack of seriousness on the part of the prosecution. But all the same, Justice is a two way traffic.
“It’s on this note that this case is hereby struck out for lack of diligent prosecution. The accused is hereby discharged, ” the Magistrate declared.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that earlier, when the matter came up for hearing, the prosecution counsel, Miss Bose Briamoh, told the court that the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the matter.
“My Lord, although this matter is slated for hearing today, it’s unfortunate that we can’t continue due to some hitches we are having as we are still trying to put our house in order.
“I am afraid we shall be asking for another date My Lord to enable us put our house in order and commence the hearing of this case properly,” Briamoh pleaded.
NAN reports that a Police First Information Report, had stated that one Asala Stephen-Ropo on May 9, 2018 reported to the Police in Lokoja that the clergyman collected N1.5 million from him to purchase a 50ft x 100ft plot of land in Lokoja sometime in Nov 2017.
But that sometimes in January 2018, when he (Stephen-Ropo) visited the place, he discovered that without his consent, the clergyman sold the same plot to another person.
The police said the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 322 of the Penal Code Law of Kogi.
NAN
