Court acquits plumber accused of stabbing man with knife in viewing centre

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday discharged and acquitted a 38-year-old plumber, Anthony Bello, charged with  stabbing a man with a knife at a football viewing centre

Justice Mojisola Dada discharged and acquitted Bello of the two-count charge of murder and unlawful assembly  after the prosecution failed to establish the ingredients of the  offences  against him.

Dada held that the prosecution failed to prove the case against the defendant  beyond reasonable doubt as the police did not carry out investigation in the case.

“The prosecution witness two pw2) testified before the court that the deceased was stabbed with a knife and he died on the spot but that the knife was not seen and there was no autopsy on the deceased.

“They did not identify the grave and there was also no visit to the crime scene.

“There is no sufficient and  compelling evidence against the defendant.

“The case of murder and unlawful assembly has not been established against the defendant.

“The defendant is discharged and acquitted on the two-count charge,” the judge said.

The prosecution alleged  Bello stabbed one Onome Uchenunu to death at a football viewing centre.

The prosecution called two witnesses during the trial while defense also produced two witnesses.

The offence was allegedly committed  on January 23, 2012, and the defendant was arrested six years later.

NAN reports that  the  defendant was seen crying in the dock  while the judge was delivering the judgment. (NAN)