By Desire Emmanuel
A security guard working at a company in Lagos State who was arrested and sent to prison custody over a theft that took place in another company has now regained freedom after he was found to be innocent.
It was gathered that in November 2023, the security guard, whose name was given simply as Amos, was stationed at the gate of a company. However, there was an allegation of theft at a microfinance bank beside the company where he worked.
Although he neither worked for the bank nor had access to its premises, his proximity to the scene became the basis for suspicion and his eventual arrest.
When questioned, Amos was said to have denied any involvement, but despite this, he was arrested by the police, detained, and was not allowed to give his own statement. Instead, a statement was reportedly written for him and he was forced to sign it.
Amos was detained at the police station for six days before being arraigned on November 8, 2023 on two counts charge of conspiracy and stealing.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties, But because he could not meet the bail conditions, he was remanded at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre, where he spent over a month before his bail was eventually perfected.
Amos continued to attend court for his case but there was no breakthrough for him until his plight got to the attention of an advocacy group that usually visits prisons and courts, the Headfort Foundation for Justice. After hearing from him, one of the foundation’s lawyers began to represent him in court.
After review of the case, the matter came to an end on January 7 when the court held that the prosecution failed to prove the two-count charge beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also noted that Amos was never mentioned by the convicted co-accused, no stolen items were linked to him, and the CCTV footage only showed him standing at his duty post when the theft was carried out.
The court, while discharging and acquitting Amos on both counts, described the case as a waste of judicial time and resources and issued a strong reprimand to the police, emphasising the need for proper investigation and fact-based prosecution.
