Court discharges transporter of theft of building fillers

The Magistrates’ Court in Dutse, Abuja, on Tuesday discharged a transporter, Isah Lawal of stealing 10 bales of building fillers worth N3.4 million.

Lawal, who resides in Gombe, was charged with criminal breach of trust and theft, contrary to Sections 312 and 387 of the Penal Code.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Alkali, discharged the case following Defence Counsel, Mr Bala Mubarak’s prayer to strike out the case for lack of evidence linking his client to the alleged theft.

Mubarak cited Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in support of his application.

He also told the court that the prosecution had repeatedly been absent since the case commenced, without providing any reason for the absence.

Magistrate Alkali said the case had been before the court since May 13 and had suffered five adjournments.

Alkali said no proof of evidence had been presented and there had been no prosecution representation despite the adjournments.

The magistrate therefore ordered that the case should be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.

Earlier, the police alleged that one Isaac Egwemezie of Deidei, Abuja reported the matter at the Deidei Divisional Police Headquarters on May 11.

The police alleged that on May 8, Lawal loaded 253 bales of fillers belonging to Egwemezie for transportation from Lagos to Deidei Building Materials Market, Abuja.

The prosecution alleged that upon the defendant’s arrival in Abuja, the complainant discovered that 10 bales of the fillers, worth N3.4 million were missing.