Ekiti Court Frees Two Lovers After 6 Years In Detention

Two lovers, Mr. Kenneth George and Evelyn Okechukwu have been discharged and acquitted by an Ekiti High Court after spending six years in custody over a robbery case they were said to have been wrongly accused of. AIT News correspondent gathered that George had been fingered by a witness as a member of the robbery gang that operated on 14 Igbole Road, Ido-Ekiti, in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State on December 12, 2008. He was therefore, arrested with his girlfriend, Evelyn, while they were relaxing at a restaurant in the area.

The accused were brought to court on a five-count-charge of robbery and conspiracy. The state counsel, Mr. Gbenga Daramola had told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 12, 2008 at No 14 Igbole Road, Ido-Ekiti.

According to the prosecution, their offence contravened Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R 11,Vol.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The defence counsel, Mr. Kola Kolade urged the court to temper justice with mercy with his clients since the prosecution counsels had failed to prove its case against them.

Justice Isaac Akintayo, after listening to the prosecution witnesses and the defence counsel’s witnesses, in his judgement said no reasonable court or tribunal would convict them.“I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove its case against the accused persons as required in law, no reasonable court or tribunal will convict them.”

Justice Akintayo thereafter ordered that the accused be discharged and acquitted on all the five counts charges brought against them by the prosecution.