An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Friday, discharged a 53-year-old man, James Eromosele, charged for allegedly impersonating a police officer.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Omolade Awope, said that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) failed to present himself and witnesses in court to testify in the case at many of the trials.
“The court is not a warehouse where cases are kept without making significant progress.
“This case is hereby struck out and the accused discharged,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Eromosele was arraigned and remanded on Feb. 26, for allegedly impersonating a commissioner of police serving at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Alagbon, Lagos.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Uche Simon, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Feb. 24 at Area H Police Station, Ogudu in Lagos at 10 a.m.
“The accused, in the same manner, impersonated a Divisional Police Officer, SP Olugbenga Adepoju”.
According to Simon, Eromosele also impersonated a lawyer in Lagos.
“Eromonsele claimed that he graduated from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, in 1985 with a B.Sc. in Law”.
On interrogation by the chief magistrate, the accused, however, said that he never studied law at UNIBEN.
The accused, who lives at No 6, Paradise close, Akute in Ogun, was facing a-three-count charge.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
Simon said the offences contravened section 76 and 77 of the Criminal Law of Lagos-state, 2011.
NAN reports that section 77 recommends three years imprisonment for offenders. (NAN)
