By Bamidele Kolawole
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A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure, yesterday threw out a robbery case due to the absence of the complainant and the Investigative Police Officer, in the court.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs C. Adeyanju, struck out the two counts charge against one John Mathew, who was alleged to have conspired with other person to attack one Adekunle Adebisi, after which they allegedly stole some items belonging to the complainant.
When the 23-year-old defendant was brought before the court, yesterday, he and another person, now at large, were alleged to have conspired to rob Adebisi, at about 7.40am at Arcade, along Igbatoro road, Akure.
On same date, time and place, the defendant and his accomplice, were said to have attacked and robbed the complainant of two Techno and one Infinix handsets, valued at N108,000 and the sum of N47,000 in cash.
According to the prosecution, ” That you, John Matthew and one other at large conspired together to commit felony to wit robbery at about 7:30pm at Arcade, along Igbatoro Road, Akure on August 27, 2018.
The offence committed contravened Sections 516 and 402(1) of the Criminal Code cap 37 Volume 1. laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Uloh Goodluck, informed the court that the complainant and the defendant had resolved to settle the case amicably.
Also counsel to the defendant, Barr. Tosin Akinyemi, urged the court to strike out the case, because the complainant and the IPO, investigating the case, were not in the court.
He further informed the court that his client and the complainant in the matter, had agreed to settle out of court.
Akinyemi told the court that his client bought phones from someone, but that he did not know that the phones were stolen items
In view of this, the presiding magistrate struck out the case and discharged the defendant.