By Martha Nuhu
Jos – A Plateau state High Court sitting in Jos on Thursday discharged and acquitted two men charged with armed robbery.
Delivering judgment, Justice A.I. Ashoms, discharged Christopher Thomas and Chidi Duru.
Ashoms held that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubts which was the essential element necessary for the offence of conspiracy and armed robbery.
“Therefore you are both hereby discharged and acquitted accordingly,” he declared.
Ashoms however advised them to shun bad company and engage themselves in meaningful and profitable jobs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecutor, Aisga Guruma, of the Plateau state Ministry of Justice, had told the court during their arraignment that the duo armed themselves with guns and robbed one Mr Idris Abdulahi of N350, 000.
Guruma said that the accused persons allegedly disguised themselves as Tricycle riders, picked an unsuspecting Abdulahi and later robbed him of his money after threatening him with a gun.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 6 (b) and 1 (1) of the the Robbery and Firearms Act, punishable with up to 14 years imprisonment and death by hanging upon conviction.
The freed suspects, had been remanded in a correctional facility in Jos since December 2015.
They pleaded not guilty to the crime during arraignment.
(NAN)