The Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has ordered the Federal Road Safety Corp to immediately reinstate its suspended employee, Mr. Abochi John, 53.
In 2016, John was charged with receiving a stolen phone.
The court ordered the commission to pay John all of his salaries, allowances, and entitlements that were withheld during his suspension from 2016 to the present.
Justice Ntong said the prosecution failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt and the witnesses were testifying on hearsay which was not admissible in law.
The presiding Judge, Justice Ntong Ntong, discharged and acquitted Mr. John and one Anietie Okokon Udoh of a two-count charge of receiving stolen property in his ruling on Monday.
The Judge ruled that the commission should pay Mr. John’s salaries and entitlements within three months, on or before April 16, 2023.”
Mr John, a native of Kogi State’s Dekina Local Government Area, was said to be the Acting Unit Head of Operations, Mbak Unit Command in Akwa Ibom State’s Itu Local Government Area, where he was said to have received a stolen Samsung Galaxy J7 phone worth 75,000 Naira.
The judge stated that the police failed to conduct a thorough investigation and that the court would not be swayed by sentiments and speculations to punish an innocent soul.
However, Justice Ntong stated that the accused’s evidence was clear, direct, and credible, stating that he purchased a phone on credit to pay in installments, but when he realized the phone was faulty, he returned it and collected his deposit.
He said “a mere fact that the police arrested a person, gave him the alleged stolen phones and made him pose for journalists, is not enough for the Court to convict such a person.”
