An Enugu High Court in Enugu has freed one Kingsley Udenu after spending nine years in prison awaiting trial.
The case was presided over by Justice Catherine Nwobodo who discharged and acquitted the suspect over what she called discrepancies in witness’ testimonies.
Kingsley Udenu was arraigned for armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms in September 2007, and has since been remanded at the Enugu Prisons until his recent discharge.
The victims of the robbery which saw Kingsley behind bars for nine years claimed that the suspect and his gang robbed them of their phones, money, shirts, fez-cap and other valuables. They added that upon arrest of the suspect, live cartridge fell from his pocket.
One of the victims testified to the court that a gang of four men attacked them at 20-B Umunebo Street, Ogui, in Enugu around 2 a.m. robbing them of their belongings. He further added that arrest of the suspect was made the following morning and the stolen properties were found and recovered from him.
Another victim claimed the suspect was among the three-man robbery gang that attacked him on the same day making away with his belongings. Alleging that the suspect was traced to his house and arrested by the police.
Justice Nwobodo ruled that there was conflict in the testimonies provided by the witnesses, adding that one could not ascertain if the suspect was among the people that robbed the plaintiffs and therefore discharged the suspect for want of evidence.
Udeme after being freed by the Court revealed that he was preparing for his mandatory one year youth corps service when he was arrested nine years ago, he thanked God for seeing him through the ordeal.
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