By Desire Emmanuel
A man who spent three months in prison custody over an offence committed by a person he recommended for employment has now regained his freedom.
The man, whose name was given simply as Gbenga, worked as a bartender at a bar in Lagos State and in an attempt to render a help, he recommended his stepmother’s relative to his boss for a job and the boss employed the man.
This however landed him in trouble as the person he recommended reportedly stole the sum of N100,000 as well as an iPhone from Gbenga’s boss and thereafter disappeared.
It was gathered that on January 9 when the theft was discovered during stock-taking exercise at the bar, his boss demanded to know the whereabouts of the missing person.
Gbenga was said to have explained that he he had not been unable to reach him. This made the boss and others at the bar to give him serious beating, as they accused him of conspiring with the man. He was thereafter taken to the police station.
Gbenga spent two weeks in police custody and police officers allegedly demanded N50,000 from him under the pretence of settling the matter at the station. Due to his inability to pay, however, he was charged to court.
On January 30, he was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his not-guilty plea, he was granted bail in the sum of ₦100,000 with two sureties, but because he couldn’t meet the conditions, he was remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.
His plight got to the attention of an advocacy group that usually visits prisons and courts, the Headfort Foundation for Justice and after hearing from him, one of the foundation’s lawyers took up his matter and began to represent him in court.
The foundation gave the details of his plight on its X handle on Friday, April 23.
On April 10 during the hearing of his case, it became clear that the complainant was no longer responsive and the prosecution had no active interest in pursuing the case.
At the final hearing of the case, the prosecution again confirmed that the complainant could not be reached and said the matter should be left at the discretion of the court.
The lawyer thereafter urged the court to strike out the case for want of diligent prosecution. The judge granted the prayer of the lawyer, discharged and acquitted Gbenga after spending three months in prison custody for an offence committed by another person.
