Two people, identified as Jimmy Badmus and Ifeanyi Nanim, who were detained for alleged armed robbery for seven years in Oyo state, have secured their release.
Badmus and Nanim were arrested on January 21, 2018, during a raid by the now-disbanded Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Apata area of Ibadan, and were subsequently charged to court.
It was gathered that a group of legal professionals, Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development (The Pro Bono Centre) helped secure the release of the two persons free of charge.
Speaking with journalists, the executive director of the Foundation, Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen, said that the High Court of Oyo state, sitting in Ibadan, had on Thursday, January 30, 2025, delivered the judgment in Charge No. I/146C/2021: The State v. Jimmy Badmus & Anor, adding that the case was heard before Honourable Justice M. I. Sule, who ruled in favour of the defendants, acquitting them of all charges.
He said that the prosecution had arraigned them on four counts, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery, under Sections 6(b), 1(2)(a), and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“However, the case suffered a prolonged delay until the recent intervention of the Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, who took up the matter free of charge”.
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Nurudeen, who led the defence team in court, said that after studying the case, they opted to rest their case on the prosecution’s evidence, noting that the move proved pivotal in securing the release of the accused persons.
“The court found that cross-examination by the defence team had weakened the prosecution’s case, creating reasonable doubt regarding the defendants’ involvement in the alleged crime.
“In delivering his judgment, Justice Sule noted that the defence had dismantled the prosecution’s case, establishing that even if the offence had occurred, the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons were responsible.
“The judge, thereafter, dismissed the charge brought by the prosecution and ordered the release of the two defendants.
Commenting on the ruling, Nurudeen hailed the verdict as a victory for justice and due process, saying that had the defendants been convicted, they would have faced a death penalty, as stipulated under Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, which mandates execution by hanging or firing squad.
“This case underscores the critical role of pro bono legal services in safeguarding fundamental rights and preventing miscarriages of justice. Our organisation, the Pro Bono Centre is committed to providing free legal representation to indigent and vulnerable persons, who may otherwise suffer wrongful convictions due to systemic failures in the criminal justice system”, he said.
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