Lagos: Man Accused Of Killing Daughter Set Free By Court

A Lagos high court sitting in Igbosere has set free Gbolahan Babatunde who was accused of killing his daughter for want of diligent prosecution.

Gbolahan who allegedly murdered his daughter was arrested in 2009 and has been in prison custody since then.

He was first arraigned in 2012 and later re-arraigned on October 29, 2013.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Aishat Opesanwo said the case had suffered eight adjournments at the instance of the prosecution which failed to call any witness and the court could not adjourn for the ninth time as the prosecution failed again to produce witnesses.

Justice Aishat said, "Given the failings of the prosecution, it was improper to further punish the defendant with detention in addition to the punishment he has brought upon himself by the pathetic circumstances of this case.

She added that the court's decision did not bar fresh prosecution of Gbolahan on the same facts any time the prosecution was ready to go on with the trial.