Justice Kyanson Samuel Lawanson of Adamawa high court V has today discharged and acquits one Baba Idi Habibu, a Numan based businessman who was brought to the court for allegedly sodomizing a teenager, Shadrach Williams.
The incident reportedly took place in Numan local government area of Adamawa State when the mother of Shadrach Williams, Abiki Williams, sent the teenager to collect some items from Baba Idi Habibu who was her long term business partner.
Baba Idi Habibu was brought to the court by the state on one count charge of having carnal knowledge of the teenager on 23rd September 2019 when his mother sent him on errand to him.
Information available to this medium indicated that piqued by the prolonged stay of her son with her business partner, Mrs Williams upon the return of Williams asked him to explain why he stayed long.
In explaining why it took him long to return, the teenager told her that Habibu actually took him to his room where he was hypnotized and subsequently violated.
Lawanson who said the prosection failed to substantiate its allegations beyond reasonable doubt against Habibu said, due to gaps in the witnesses and dearth of substance forwarded by the prosecution, he has no alternative other than to acquit the defendant.
According to the judge, five witnesses were brought to testify against the defendant adding that after due diligence and judicial scrutiny, the prosecution failed to satisfy the court that the suspect has actually committed the crime.
He noted that there were a lot of gaps and lack of cohesion between the witnesses as most of them acted on hearsay since they are not eyewitnesses to the incident.
Justice Lawanson who also picked loopholes with the statement of the teenager, said it could not be possible for him to know he was violated while he was in a state of dizziness and hallucination.
He therefore discharged and acquitted the suspect with a warning on him to be careful in his dealings adding that if he actually committed the crime and scaled this case due to poor prosecution, he will be surely nailed another time.
