Impact Stories
In 2019, John was arrested and charged at the Magistrate Court, which lacked jurisdiction over his case. The case suffered series of adjournments for two years, while awaiting the Advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). In 2021, the DPP's advice was issued and the case was transferred to the High Court of Lagos, where John pleaded not guilty, and the trial commenced. However, the Prosecution failed to produce its witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case.
On March 25, 2024, the Prosecution counsel informed the court that the IPO was testifying in another court and applied to the court for a new trial date to produce the IPO before the court, which was granted. However, on April 25, 2024, the Prosecution counsel informed the Court that the complainant and the IPO were unreachable as they were not present in Court.
Due to the ongoing status of the case since 2019 and the Defendant spending six years in prison without trial, our counsel applied to the court for the case to be struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution, which was granted by the court, after the Defendant had spent six years in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Center, Lagos State without Trial/Conviction.
