A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, has discharged and acquitted one Uche Friday Uche over allegations of assault against a minor.
The defendant was arraigned in a suit marked YBS/DT/CMC-I/19/2021, instituted by the Commissioner of Police, on a charge bordering on the use of criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of a girl—an offence punishable under Section 268 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution, led by M.H. Muhammad presented its case against the accused, while defence counsel, S.S. Karasuwa urged the court to dismiss the charge for lack of merit.
In his ruling, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mohammed Bilyaminu, held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
“The prosecution has not established a prima facie case to justify further proceedings,” the magistrate ruled.
He added that the evidence presented was insufficient to warrant the continuation of the trial.
Consequently, the court struck out the case and discharged the accused.
It would be recalled that Uche was arrested in 2021 over a charge bordering on the use of criminal force against a girl with intent to outrage her modesty.
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