29th February, 2012
Mr. Nicholas Okoye, who reported a case of threat to his life by relatives, Geoffery Okey, Akueche Nicholas Ifeanyi and Akueche Chukwuma, to the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has withdrawn the matter from Igbosere Magistrate’s Court 5.
The withdrawal, according to him, was due to the intervention of his family and other members of their community.
The police in charge sheet No. E/45/2011 stated that the trio were arrested and arraigned in court following Nicholas’ complaint that the accused on 2 February, 2011 in Lagos, threatened his life severally by calling and sending threat text messages to him.
He alleged that the trio intimidated him with threat messages that if he fails to part with N10 million, he would be killed.
They were charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court 5 for threatening violence to extort N10 million.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo, are punishable under Section 517, 86(2); 363 (27), 390 (6) and are contrary to Section 506 and punishable under Section 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 17, Vol. II, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
When the matter came up for mention on 14 February, 2012, Mr. Nicholas, the complainant presented an application for voluntary withdrawal to the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. M. O. Ogunsanya, stating that the matter has been amicably resolved by his family.
He added that the issue was an internal and family disagreement.
In her ruling, the magistrate said: “In view of a letter of withdrawal dated 14 February, 2012 and duly executed by a complainant, Mr. Nicholas Okoye, in a case of threat to life he instituted through the police at Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, the matter is hereby struck out as prayed by the complainant under Section 73 of Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.
—Paul Iyoghojie