The Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has today struck out the Charge No. MU/9C/2017 filed in 2017 against Mr. Nsibiet John, Publisher of the Ink Newspaper.
Mr. Moses Ekpo, the state’s Deputy Governor, was the complainant in the said charge.
When the matter was called at about 10:05 am, Thurdsay, Ekemini Udim, counsel for the accused person prayed the court to strike out the matter for want of diligent prosecution.
Udim informed the court that neither the prosecutor nor the complainant were present in court for prosecution of the matter.
The Counsel then cited section 282 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Akwa Ibom State, 2000 which provides for the striking out of a matter if the prosecutor and the complainant are absent.
Ekemini also informed the court that the Deputy Governor has never been to the court since the commencement of the matter and that such absence is contrary to the provisions of the law.
The Court accepted the submission of counsel for the accused person and struck out the charge.
