Appeal Court frees man wrongfully accused of defiling minor

An Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has freed one Ismail Abdulmodiu who was wrongfully jailed for defiling an underage girl.

A Lagos High Court, had on Thursday, March 9, 2023, sentenced Ismail Abdulmodiu to life imprisonment on an alleged case of defilement.

Since then, Ismail has served one year and six months in a correctional facility in Lagos for an offence he was wrongfully accused of.

The appeal court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Mustapha, on June 28, 2024, overturned the judgement of the Lagos High Court.

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With the fresh judgement, Ismail is freed of the allegation of defilement.

The judgement, was delivered by Justice Mohammed Mustapha, which was allowed and abided by the two other justices, Justice Abdullah Mahmud Bayero and Justice Paul Ahmed Bassi JCA.

The trial judge stated that the court’s decision to discharge and acquit the wrongfully accused person was arrived at based on the fact that the high court failed to establish any case against the accused person.