Court acquits man after 2 years behind bars

An Ekiti State high court sitting in Ado Ekiti has discharged and acquitted one Sanni Mohammed, 25, after spending two years in jail. In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “The offence with which the defendant was charged carried the ultimate punishment should it be proved that he actually committed the offence. It was incumbent […]

An Ekiti State high court sitting in Ado Ekiti has discharged and acquitted one Sanni Mohammed, 25, after spending two years in jail.

In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “The offence with which the defendant was charged carried the ultimate punishment should it be proved that he actually committed the offence. It was incumbent on the prosecution to ensure that all facts which actually linked the defendant to the offence were placed before the court. In all, the sole issue for determination is hereby resolved against the prosecution. The defendant is discharged and acquitted.’’

 According to the charge, Mohammed Sanni was on May 16, 2019 at Ikere Ekiti, found to be a member of the Aye confraternity, contrary to section 4(1) of the Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) First Amendment) Law, No 6 of Ekiti State, 2017.  To prove his case, the prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, called two witnesses and tendered only the defendant’s statement as exhibit. The defendant was first arraigned before the court on February 24, 2020.

Addressing the court after the verdict, the defence counsel, Barrister Kayode Oyeyemi, commended Justice Ogunmoye for delivering a well resounding judgment, adding that the court indeed remains the last hope of a common man.