Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a suit filed by the Inspector General of Police against Precious Chikwendu, the estranged wife of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
The dismissal of the suit followed the withdrawal of the criminal charge by the prosecution counsel, John Ijagbemi.
Thursday’s sitting was for the re-arraignment of Precious Chikwendu, on a 14-count amended charge that bordered on an alleged threat to the lives of witnesses billed to testify in the trial.
The amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/01/2022, was dated and filed on April 28, 2022.
Other defendants in the trial include Emmanuel Anakan, Prisca Chikwendu, and Osakwe Azubuike while others are said to be at large.
At a resumed sitting, the police lawyer told the court “The matter was slated for re-arraignment of the defendants.
“However, we want to plead to your lordship for the withdrawal of the case,” Ijagbemi said.
Ijagbemi said the FCT Commissioner of Police was in receipt of a letter from the nominal complainant (Fani-Kayode) about his intention to withdraw the case.
The prosecution counsel said the withdrawal of the charge was provided for in Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Reacting, Peter Abang, counsel to Precious Chikwendu and other defendants, did not oppose the request to withdraw the charge.
Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Ekwo dismissed the suit accordingly.
Addressing judiciary reporters after the sitting, Abang described the withdrawal of the suit as “a welcomed development.”