A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday discharged the Chairman of Human and Environmental Development Agenda, Olanrewaju Suraju, over alleged cyberstalking charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
His discharge followed a request from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to withdraw the charge against the HEDA boss.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Yewande Cole, told the court that she had been directed by the AGF to withdraw the case.
“I have the instruction of the Attorney-General to withdraw the amended charge of two counts for further review.
“This means that the court will strike out the case and when we are ready to go on, we will come back and re-file it,” Cole said.
She also argued that according to the relevant provisions of the law, the defendant could only be discharged and not acquitted at this point.
Counsel for Suraju, Muiz Banire (SAN), however, asked the court to acquit his client, saying that was the natural cause of action following such an application for withdrawal.
“It is the law as contained in Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act that where such an application is made, the court will acquit the defendant,” he stated.
While asking the court to order the release of the N7 million bond he posted to secure the bail of his client, Banire asked the court to award N1 million cost to him.
In a short ruling, Justice Binta Nyako discharged Suraju and the N7 million bail bond.
Justice Nyako, however, ordered the prosecution to pay N250,000 to the defendant whenever the case was going to be refiled.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that Suraju was docked before Justice Nyako on an amended two-count bordering on allegedly cyberstalking the former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
The case was filed against the HEDA boss by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
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