ACJL Success Story
A 28-year-old man who lives with his family at Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, works as a bus conductor before his arrest and incarceration.
During 31st night cross-over service in December 2013, there was a disagreement among some members who claimed to have lost personal effects during the service, our client and some others were alleged to be the culprits. He was arrested by the Police from the Agbani Police Station and subsequently transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Firing Squad (SARS) Enugu and accused of armed robbery.
Our client was arraigned at the High Court of Justice, Agbani Judicial division Enugu for the offence of armed robbery in 2014 and his trial then commenced. This case protracted unduly for years to the extent that it passed through three Judges owing to the inability of the prosecution to produce witnesses for the effective prosecution of the Defendant.
CAPIO lawyers made several applications for the release of the defendant but the court insisted on the trial going on. However, CAPIO legal team continued to push on and on the 1st of February 2021 the court granted our application for the charge to be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution and the charge was struck out and the defendant was discharged.
It came as a rude shock to the defendant when the court pronounced his discharge because the court has previously refused the application. Our client through CAPIO free legal services regained his freedom after 6 years and 1 month in custody without trial.
