An Upper Area Court in Masaka, Nasarawa State, on Friday, discharged a 26-year- old man, Dickson Tete, who had been charged with alleged assault.
The judge, Mr. Yakubu Ishaku, discharged the defendant, following an application of withdrawal of the case from court by the complainant, Blessing Ahonsi.
The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Frank Swem, who brought the application for withdrawal of the case, told the court that the complainant was no longer interested in pursuing the case, adding that the parties had settled out of court.
The prosecutor informed the court that the complainant, Abonsi, instructed him to withdraw the case because she had forgiven the defendant.
According to the judge, having heard the prosecution’s application to discharge the case as a result of lack of interest by the complainant and based on the settlement reached by both parties, the case is hereby struck out.
“The First Information Report (FIR) is hereby struck-out and the defendant is discharged of the criminal charge, the judge ruled.
The prosecutor had during Tete’s arraignment, said he was charged with the use of criminal force.
Swem alleged that the defendant had beaten Abonsi over a disagreement of payment of electricity bill and injured her head.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 265 of the Penal Code.
Tete, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCQjn5zKmow&w=560&h=315]
