Court discharges man accused of setting woman ablaze

A 27-year-old man accused by the police of pouring petrol on a woman and setting her on fire which led to her death has been discharged by an FCT High Court. The police, in a one-count charge, alleged that Uchenna Ugwuiro of Karmo poured petrol on one Ifeoma Okwor and set her on fire on […]

A 27-year-old man accused by the police of pouring petrol on a woman and setting her on fire which led to her death has been discharged by an FCT High Court.

The police, in a one-count charge, alleged that Uchenna Ugwuiro of Karmo poured petrol on one Ifeoma Okwor and set her on fire on July 27, 2015.

He however pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on March 7, 2017 for culpable homicide.

Delivering ruling on an application by his counsel yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Bolaji Belgore, discharged the defendant for want of diligent prosecution.

Belgore held that since the arraignment of Ugwuiro on March 7, 2017, the prosecutor had been absent and had not opened his case.

The judge said the matter had been adjourned eight times since arraignment but the prosecutor showed up in court only twice.

The defendant’s counsel, Victor Oziugbe, had urged the court to dismiss the case in line with Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, adding that it appeared the prosecution was no longer interested in the matter.