Enugu – The Appeal Court in Enugu on Thursday quashed the judgment of an Ebony high court which sentenced Simon Mbam, John Ogbaga and Chukwuma Mbam to seven years imprisonment for arson.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Rita Nosakhare, held that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt as the suspects could not be linked to the crime.
“The prosecution could not prove that any structure was burnt, therefore, the suspicion that any structure was burnt is faulty.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“The accused persons made two statements to the police but the defence of alibi was never raised,” she said.
Nosakahare, however, discharged and acquitted the suspects for want of evidence.
The high court had in 2011 sentenced the three men to seven years imprisonment for a five- count charge bordering on arson and murder.
The counsel to the accused persons, Ndubisi Okwuchukwu, appealed the judgement, challenging the decision of the lower court. (NAN)