Obinna Obinna, a phone seller from Ikorodu, Lagos State, who spent over a year behind bars has finally regained freedom.
Obinna was arrested on December 12, 2021 after he got involved, unknowingly, in stolen Iphones.
According to the Headfort Foundation – a Prison justice reform organization – Obinna was wrongly arrested which is why they fought in court to help him regain freedom.
“Obinna is a 28 years old man who sells phone accessories in Ikorodu, Lagos State. In November 2021, a guy (Mr. X) approached him that he had some new iPhones for sale. Obinna told Mr. X that he won’t be able to sell the phones as he sells only phone accessories.
“After much persuasion, Obinna called some contacts at Computer Village, Ikeja to ask if they could help sell the phones. One of them showed interest, and a meeting point was fixed at Obinna’s shop. Unknown to Obinna, the iPhones were actually stolen,” the Foundation said.
The phones were tracked to Obinna a few weeks later, and he was arrested in his store for conspiring and allegedly selling stolen phones.
“Obinna tried to tell the Police to give him some days to provide Mr. X but the Police did not listen to him. He was arrested, and taken to the Ikeja Police station on were tracked down to Obinna, and he was arrested in his shop for conspiracy and alleged sale of stolen phones.” Headfort narrated.
Obinna tried to tell the police to give him a couple of days to provide for Mr. X, but the police didn’t listen to him.
“He was arrested, and taken to the Ikeja Police station on the 12th of December, 2021. On the 17th of December, 2021 Obinna was arraigned at the Magistrate Court, Ogba on a 3-count charge.
“During her court cell visitation in August 2022, our lawyer, Thecla Onuagu met Obinna, and she started representing him,” Headfort wrote in the statement.
The prosecution opened Obinna’s case in September 2022. The case was adjourned for cross-examination of the first witness, but the witness never came forward.
“On the 27th of January, 2023, after several adjournments at the instance of the prosecution, Thecla applied for the prosecution Witness evidence to be expunged and for the 3-count charges against Obinna to be dismissed in accordance with Section 272 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2015. The application was granted and the charge against Obinna was dismissed.“
Prior to that, Obinna spent approximately one year and one month in detention.
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