Edo court acquits embattled Uselu Psychiatric Hospital staff

After three years of trial on alleged felony and other criminal allegations, the Egor Magistrate Court 2 in Benin City, Edo State Capital has acquitted four staff of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, hinging its judgment on the fact that the prosecution could not prove its case.

Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Williams I. Aziegbemhin said the prosecuting counsel failed to prove his case and therefore; acquitted the four accused, warning that all parties should abide by the judgment or face penalties.

The accused are Dr O. C. Ikeji, Mrs O.U. Morgan, Dr Orhiakhi and Mr O. Akerele, with case charge No-MEG/201c/14/.  They were accused of stealing a file from one Ms T.I. Agho, belonging to the Edo State Post Primary Education Board.

It would be recalled that the same court had in 2015 struck out a case of felony and padlocking the main entrance to the hospital with a key and chain on November 12, 2014, brought against a consultant psychiatrist with the hospital, Dr. Ambrose Lawani, over the inability of the prosecutors to prove their case, which was instituted December 2014.

The magistrate said the IPO, ASP Dumpe Donaka agreed he did visit the scene of the crime, noting that he only visited the place but did not investigate.

The accused persons have been under suspension and purported sack right from the day the matter was brought before the court.