A Federal High Court sitting in Awka has struck out an advance fee fraud charge levelled against one Felix Ikwunne Ikeji of Ngodo Village, Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, and discharged him accordingly.
Mr. Ikeji, who was aged fifty-five when he was arrested, and who has been in prison custody, was in a one-count charge accused of obtaining the sum of five million, two hundred thousand naira from one Chief Sunday Nwosu, in pretense that he, Ikeji, will use the money as a consideration to supply a trailer body to Chief Nwosu.
The offence, contrary to section one sub section three of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2006, was said to have been committed on or about 16th December 2021 at Bakery Material Market, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the court.
However, when the matter was called up in the court presided over by Justice Saleh Shuaibu, the Prosecution counsel, Barrister Ikennagozie Nwobasi, holding brief for Barrister Romex Ugwor, informed the court that the nominal complainant is no longer interested in the prosecution of the matter.
He, therefore, applied to withdraw the charge, which Defense counsel, Barrister Maduabuchi Umeachusi, did not oppose.
Justice Shuaibu subsequently struck out the charge and discharged the defendant.
Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Umeachusi, who spoke to the ABS Judiciary Correspondent, Joseph Egbeocha after the proceedings, said he will procure the court order and present same to prison officials in order to get his client released forthwith.
Comments are closed for this post.