?An Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday discharged a 32-year-old electrician, Said Ayoola, who had been remanded in custody for three month over alleged rape.
Magistrate M.O. Shomade said that the defendant was discharged because no case had been established against him.
“This case is hereby struck out and the accused is discharged,” Shomade said.
The magistrate noted that since Ayoola’s arraignment on June 10, the prosecution had failed to produce any witness to testify against him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the arraignment, the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Eze, had told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on May 4 at about 7.40 p.m.
According to Eze, the defendant allegedly invaded the apartment of a 35-year-old spinster (names withheld) and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. ?
NAN reports that the electrician, who resides at Ojo Igbede Road, near Cele Bus stop, Lagos, had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties.
The prosecutor said that the alleged offence contravened Section 258 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011
He was, however, unable to perfect his bail conditions and had been in the Badagry Prison since then. ?(NAN)