An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday in Ibadan discharged and acquitted a 22-year-old man, Balogun Emmanuel, who had been remanded four months for alleged attempted burglary.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Oladele Adisa, discharged and acquitted Emmanuel due to lack of willingness on the part of the complaint to press charges.
Emmanuel, who resides in Owo town in Ondo State was arraigned on a two count charge of felony breakout and attempted house breaking and stealing on the 18th day of October, 2018
Although he was granted bail of N50,000.with one surety gainfully employed, the accused has since failed to meet the bail conditions
When Emmanuel appeared before Chief magistrate, on Monday he played the court to temper justice with mercy, he insisting that he neither attempted to break into the house nor steal any property therein
The accused further told the court that he came to Ibadan from Owo,in Ondo State to seek for greener pasture before caught for attempted burglary maintained that he was man of good character and conduct
The prosecutor, Mr.Shalewa Hammed has earlier told the court that the complaint had not shown the willingness to press charges against the accused, saying this had reflected in his ( complaint ‘s) appearance for only once since the commencement of the trial four months ago
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Adisa discharge and acquitted Emmanuel and ordered him to immediately processed to his home town Owo, report himself to his parents and henceforth be of good conduct
“You must immediately travel back to where you came from (owo) and report yourself to your parents. You must also be of good conduct. I must tell you that you must go and sin no more. If, you are brought before this court again for committing any offence I can assure you that you may not be this lucky” he said
The judgment prompted lawyers, journalists and those in the courtroom to contribute a total sum of N3,600 to facilitate his return to his home town after he broke down in tears with claims that he didn’t have any money on him.
