AN High Court sitting in Sagamu, on Tuesday, discharged and acquitted a 75year old man, Chief Samuel Banjo, over alleged defilement of 12-year-old secondary school student (name withheld).
The septuagenarian was said to have committed the offence on the 26th November 2012.
In a Suit with No HCS/23c/2014 filed by the prosecuting counsel, Adebola Bolarinwa, of the Ogun State Ministry of Justice the community leader of Efure, Sagamu, contravened Section 32 of Child Right Act of Ogun State Laws 2006 and therefore charged the court to prosecute him for the offence.
Delivering the judgement which lasted for over three hours, Justice E.O Osinuga, said that Bolarinwa, failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt as provided by Section 36 subsection 5 of the Constitution.
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She, therefore, discharged and acquitted the accused person of the alleged criminal offence and also ordered the release of the Nigerian and British International Passports of Chief Banjo with immediate effect.
While reacting to the judgement, the defence counsel, Babatunde Oshilaja, applauded the judgement and appreciated the Judge for her courage and forthrightness over the case.
Banjo also appreciated the court for upholding justice on the matter, saying “he was framed up by his detractors.
“I am really grateful to God and the judge for upholding justice in this case. It is a case of frame up and God, through the court has vindicated me. It’s really been very trying but glory be to God for indeed, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.
