38 year old woman regains freedom after spending 10 years in prison without trial
A 38-year-old woman, Titilayo Benson who had been in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos state for about ten years over alleged fight with her friend and housemate Blessing Imade, but was not arraing in court , on Thursday regained her freedom.
Penpushing reports that, the fight between the duo has it that, Imade cut Benson with a razor blade, and in retaliation she stabbed her (Imade) with a broken bottle which led to death after a month, while still receiving treatment for the injury she sustained.
The suspect was subsequently, arrested and detained for months at the State Criminal Intelligence Department (SCID) Panti, before being charged before an Ebutte-Meta Magistrate Court for causing the death of another, a matter which the magistrate court has no jurisdiction over.
Penpushing further reports that, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, set Benson free following a plea bargain between the state government and the defendant,when a representative of the Directorate of Public Prosecution told the court that she has been in custody for over 10 years without arraignment
The judge who was visibly shocked about the information queried, “how did that happen? How can anybody be in custody in 10 years without being in court? It is not possible,”
Penpushing also reports that, a representative of the office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice, O.A Bajulaiye-Bishi while responding to the judge explained that there is evidence of production warrant but the defendant was not brought to court, and it is most likely the production warrant was not delivered.
‘A murder charge with suit number LD/92/13 was filed against Mrs Benson before Mrs Taiwo’s court. However, she was never produced before the judge, who later struck out the case in 2017 for lack of diligent prosecution. Mrs Benson was never arraigned, tried, or convicted by any court. Yet, she remained in prison for years.
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