A former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, withdrew an attempted murder suit filed against his estranged wife, Ms Precious Chikwendu.
Prosecution counsel, John Ijagbemi, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja shortly after the matter was called for the defendants to take a plea.
“The matter was slated for re-arraignment of the defendants today. However, we want to plead to your lordship for the withdrawal of the case,” he said.
Ijagbemi informed the court that the FCT Commissioner of Police was in receipt of a letter from the nominal complainant (Fani-Kayode) about his intention to withdraw the case.
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He said the withdrawal of the charge was provided for in Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
After the lawyer to Ms Chikwendu, Peter Abang, did not oppose the request, Justice Ekwo dismissed the suit.
In the amended 14-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/01/2022 dated and filed on April 28, Chikwendu was the 2nd defendant in the matter.
Other defendants in the trial include Emmanuel Anakan, Prisca Chikwendu and Osakwe Azubuike as 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively, while others are said to be at large.
Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, Abang described the withdrawal of the suit as “a welcomed development.”
On his part, Ijagbemi said, “the complainant, via the prosecution, has the unfettered power to withdraw a charge before the court.”
He said with the provision of ACJA, 2015, a charge could be withdrawn even until a judgment against any of the defendants or accused persons standing trial before the court.
The lawyer said the ex-minister, in his withdrawal of the case letter, informed that “the whole family members had a sit-down and amicably resolved the matter without any rancour or recourse to previous occurrences and they are happily standing and living together in love and in harmony.
“And we, being an institution of government saddled with the responsibility of the protection of lives and property, seeking peace and order in the society including individual family. We are glad to apply for the withdrawal of this case against the defendants.
“You all know that it is the family that is really involved and we are interested in the peace and tranquility of the family and that is why we have withdrawn it and it is our pleasure.” (NAN)
