A Kano State High Court has discharged and acquitted Francis Obodu of charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Obodu, whose age and address were not disclosed in court, had been arraigned on a three-count charge following an alleged robbery at Kings Garden, Brigade Quarters, Kano, on May 8, 2022.
The prosecution, led by Abdullahi Aminu, alleged that Obodu conspired with one Moses Onu, who remains at large, to rob Jennifer Okoh at her shop around 7:30 p.m.
According to the prosecution, the suspects allegedly threatened the victim, stole her mobile phone, valuables and an unspecified amount of money, and were found in possession of a pistol.
The prosecution called one witness in support of its case, arguing that the offenses contravened Sections 97 and 298 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Obodu denied the allegations, while his counsel, Haruna Saleh-Zakariyya, called him to testify in his own defense.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Farida Rabiu-Danbappa held that the prosecution failed to present credible evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crimes.
The judge ruled that the prosecution did not prove the essential ingredients of the offenses beyond reasonable doubt.
“The defendant, Francis Obodu, is hereby found not guilty of the three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of a gun preferred against him. He is hereby discharged and acquitted,” the judge declared.
