A Grade 1 Area court in Aso Pada, Mararaba, yesterday discharged a blind man Dahiru Ibrahim, 36, standing trial for allegedly causing grievous hurt, for want of diligence prosecution.
Ibrahim, of Ungwan Makafai, Mararaba, is arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal intimidation and causing grievous hurt on December 6.
The presiding judge, Mr. Albert Maga, struck out the case when the complainant, Zainab Musa, 50, of same address failed to show up in the court.
“This case has suffered many adjournments at the instance of the complainant.
“Since the accused was arraigned in December, the complainant has failed to come to the court to pursue her case; there was no correspondence to explain the reasons for her absence from the court; meanwhile, the accused has never failed in coming.
“This shows lack of seriousness on the part of the complainant, I hereby strike out the case and discharge the accused person,” Maga ruled.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Musa, wife to another blind man had on December 6 dragged Ibrahim to court.
On that same date, she alleged that Ibrahim assaulted her with an iron rod.
She said that due to the assault, she sustained some injuries on her head and hands.
Musa alleged that the accused also threatened to deal with her.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying the complainant had been spreading false reports about him in the neighbourhood that he was sleeping around with minors.
“I went to advise her to stop telling lies about me. But in reaction, she hit me with a stick on my jaw.
“In the process, I only grabbed her by the collar of her blouse; I never assaulted her.
“She can see and I am blind, who will first assault who in such a situation?” he asked. (NAN)
