Court discharged 33-year-old Mechanic after spending 7years in prison

A 33-year-old mechanic , Saheed Akeem, has been acquitted of armed robbery and conspiracy by a Lagos HIgh Court , Ikeja for lack of sufficient evidence.

Akeem who had been in police custody since 2010 (seven years) for the alleged offence was charged of the two-count charge before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi.

While pronouncing her judgement, Justice Adebiyi said that the victim of the alleged crime, Miss Damilola Fashayi did not positively identify the defendant during the trial.

“The testimony of Fashayi did not positively identify the defendant to the court and the evidence was not cogent and was full of inconsistencies.

“The failure of the prosecution to call the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) was fatal to the prosecution’s case.

“The prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery proffered against the defendant.

“The defendant is hereby discharged of the two-count charge,” the Judge said.

According to the prosecution, Mrs O.A Olugasa, Akeem committed the offence at 7.30pm on Nov. 19, 2010 with an accomplice who is presently at large at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos.

He and his accomplice was said to have allegedly robbed Fashayi of her blackberry, Zain and Nokia mobile phones all valued at N15,000 as well as N12,000 cash.

The offence, according to the prosecution, was in violation of Section 402 (2)(a) and 403 (a) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2003.