Stephen Audu, an armed robbery suspect, set free after 10 years of detention and trial by a High Court sitting in Jos.

 pix: Nigerian Prison yard

Stephen Audu was said to be returning home late in the evening in violation of a curfew imposed by the plateau state Government, and was arrested on February 5, 2012 by a vigilance group near Shere Hills in the Jos East Local Government Area where he had gone to see a sick, and was handed over to the Nassarawa Gwom Police Division where he was held until the next morning. He was also refused bail.

Stephen was charged to court by the police on the second day, following a complaint of armed robbery by a complaint.

A human right activist, Mr Luke Muonanu along with some group of lawyers stood by Audu, saying he was framed up.

Justice Nimpa, who delivered judgment on the matter on 20^th June 2012, discharged and acquitted Audu of all criminal charges of armed robbery leveled against him by the police.

The learned trial judge said held that prosecuting counsel, Mr G. O. Fwonyon, the State’s Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions has failed to convince the court beyond any reasonable doubt that Stephen Audu committed the offence. The learned trial judge further held that Neither the vigilante that effected the accused’s arrest nor the police that charged him to court have showed up to testify on the matter. From the evidences before me, there is nothing to show that the accused committed the offence for which he is standing trial. He is hereby discharged and acquitted.

Mr Muonanu described the judgment as victory to the judiciary, noting that it was a display of justice and fairness. He said he was attracted to the case because of the injustice of the matter.