Judiciary

AN Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday struck out a criminal charge of enticing or dating a married woman filed against a businessman, Henry Itsedi.

Itsedi, who resides in Gwagwalada, pleaded not guilty to the charge on March 3.

The judge, Malam Sani Umar, granted the application made by the Defence Counsel, Kafayat Sadiq that the case be struck out  due to lack of diligent prosecution.

Umar, also discharged the defendant.

Earlier, Sadiq, in an oral application prayed the court to strike out the matter for lack of diligent prosecution and discharge the defendant.

She said the application was brought pursuant to Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), adding that the complainant was not serious about the matter.

The  Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko who did not object to the application of the defence counsel said he has seen the complainant after the matter was mentioned in court.

Tanko told the court that the complainant, Mr Anthony Orukpe, who resides in Durumi Abuja reported the matter at the Police Station on Jan. 31.

He said that in 2019 the defendant dated the complainant’s wife, Mrs Beauty Taire who resides in Old Kutunku Gwagwalada, Abuja.

He said as a result of that the complainant no longer had access to his wife.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 389 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

A.I

Tags: Abdullahi Tanko Henry Itsedi. Kafayat Sadiq Malam Sani Umar Mr Anthony Orukpe