Reps fracas: Court frees lawmaker

Hon. Chinyere Emmaunel Igwe

An Abuja Magistrates’ Court on Monday discharged and acquitted a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Austin Nwachukwu, who was facing trial for allegedly spraying tear gas in the House and injuring a lawmaker, Chinyere Igwe during the fracas that rocked the House on June 22.

Delivering his ruling in a no-case submission by Nwachukwu’s lawyer, Mr. Chidi Aroh, the Chief Magistrate, Oyebisi Oyewumi discharged and acquitted Nwachukwu for want of evidence.

The court held that from the totality of evidence by only one witness from the the police, no prima facie case was established against the lawmaker saying that there was no reason to allow the charge to continue.

Magistrate Oyewumi held that the absence in court of the Clerk of the House, Alhaji M.A Sani Omori, who wrote the petition against Nwachukwu and the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Bayero Nafada, showed that they were not interested in the case.

The court also held that the refusal of the victim of the alleged assault, Chinyere Igwe to make statement to the police and also appear to testify in the case was fatal to justice in the case.

 Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010265462268