Court Acquits 26 Suspects Over Lack of Diligent Prosecution in Niger State

Babatunji Wusu –

• Case Dismissed: A Minna Chief Magistrate Court has discharged and acquitted 26 individuals accused of criminal conspiracy and belonging to a gang of thieves.
• Initial Charges: The suspects were arraigned by the Niger State Police Command in October 2024, with charges under Sections 97 and 306 of the Penal Code.
• Prosecution Failure: The prosecution failed to proceed with the case, leading the defense to request dismissal.
• Defense Argument: Led by Barrister Abubakar Sadiq Ma’aji, the defense argued that the case should be dismissed due to “lack of diligent prosecution.”
• Court Ruling: Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Ummul Katume Mohammed discharged the defendants under Section 191 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Niger State, 2021.

A Minna Chief Magistrate Court has discharged and acquitted 26 individuals who had been standing trial for alleged criminal conspiracy and membership in a gang of thieves. The Niger State Police Command initially arraigned the suspects in October 2024, charging them under Sections 97 and 306 of the Penal Code.

However, the case suffered delays due to the prosecution’s failure to present sufficient evidence or advance the trial. This prompted the defense counsel, led by Barrister Abubakar Sadiq Ma’aji, to request that the court dismiss the charges, citing “lack of diligent prosecution.”

Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Hajiya Ummul Katume Mohammed ruled in favor of the defense and discharged all 26 defendants. She based her ruling on Section 191 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Niger State, 2021, which allows the court to dismiss cases where the prosecution fails to proceed effectively.

With this ruling, the defendants have been cleared of all charges, bringing the legal proceedings to an end. The case highlights the importance of diligent prosecution in ensuring justice and preventing prolonged legal uncertainty for accused individuals.