_*Carpenter, conductor discharged of illegal gun possession.*_

Justice Serifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) had discharged two men of the offence of unlawful possession of locally made gun and membership unlawful society after three years of awaiting trial.

The suspects included a capenter Bashiru  Shitta and a bus conductor, Abiodun Benson, regained freedom last Wednesday. September 18, 2024.

They were arrested from their homes in Ikorodu to face trial for the alleged offences.

The suspects regained their freedom following an application moved by  a Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), Mrs Grace Adenubi.

The defendants who  were remanded at Kirikiri Medium Correctional Center in 2021 were eventually arraigned before the court in March 2023 in Charge No. ID/195746/22 immediately after the case was refered to LACON.

All through trial the prosecution couldn’t produce any witness in court despite several adjournment at their instance.

The defendants maintained  that they were  innocent of the offence for which they were charged while
the main culprit had long been bailed even before they were arraigned.
Mrs Adenubi, pursuant to an application, applied for striking out of the case for want of diligent prosecution.

After several adjournment, the court granted their prayer and struck out the charge.
Reacting to the decision of the court, Mrs Adenubi said the young men have been counselled and adminished to be of good behavior henceforth.