Kogi CJ Releases Mother, Son Incarcerated Over N4,000 Theft

Justice Nasir Ajanah

The Chief Judge of Kogi, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Saturday unconditionally released a middle aged mother, Ajaratu Ibrahim and her 17-year-old son, Muhideen Ibrahim incarcerated over alleged theft of N4,000.

Ajanah ordered unconditional release of the accused and her child, during his prison decongestion visit to the Medium Security Prison, Kabara.

He said the charge of criminal intimidation, house breaking and theft against them was malicious.Ajaratu had told the Chief Judge that she was summoned on Sunday morning by her employer, the complainant at Ekirin-Adde in Yagba-West Local Government Area of the state to be told that thieves broke into the house Saturday night.

She was later asked to go and clean up the place littered with dirt and on getting to the place, she saw currency notes amounting to N4, 000 on the floor.

She said she picked them up and reported back to her mistress but the mistress insisted the money was kept in her handbag.

According to Ajaratu, the mistress alleged that she must have tampered with the handbag with intent to steal and could possibly have organised and led the thieves who invaded her house the previous night.

Ajaratu said she got home and narrated the story to her son, who immediately called the mistress on phone to tell her that his mother was never a thief.

“My son asked her to stop calling me a thief and this led to our arrest on Monday,” she said.

The chief judge restated his stand against the use of government machinery to intimidate innocent citizens.

“From my interaction with her and her son, Muhideen, the boy of 17 years did not steal any money nor his conduct amount to intimidation of any person as can be seen from the FIR.

“In the case of this accused, it is shown that the complainant is her mistress, who she works for at Ekirin-Adde.

“There is no offence of intimidation disclosed even in the FIR against her.

“The history of stolen money in her mistress’ house seems to be a malicious allegation against her.

“The period she and her son have spent in detention so far is unjustifiable. In the circumstance of this case, I hereby release them unconditionally,” he said.

NAN reports that the Chief Judge also granted unconditional freedom to five other ‘Awaiting Trial Inmates,’ who were unjustifiably incarcerated in the prison.

Other who regained their freedom are: Abiodun Joseph,Matthew Elijah, Rahmond Abdullahi, Mohammed Bani and Ibrahim Zaudanna, whose alleged offences ranged from criminal conspiracy armed robbery, culpable homicide and abduction to kidnapping.

Ajanah further decried involvement of youths in criminal activities and called for re-orientation.

He advised courts not to adjourn cases beyond two weeks and directed that pending criminal cases be accorded accelerated hearing and be dispensed with within two weeks.

The chief judge examined the warrants of 25 awaiting trial inmates and released seven unconditionally.

NAN reports that the remaining 18, who were alleged to have committed serious offences like culpable homicide, kidnapping and armed robbery, are to be taken to court.

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