From Yakubu Busari, Jos
A state High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Daniel Longji, has discharged and acquitted Dr. Michael Owoicho Odeh of money diversion charges.
The Commissioner of Police in Plateau State Command, had filed a suit with No. PLD/j75/2016, preferred against one Orji Ifeoma Sharon Stella and Dr. Odeh, accusing them of being involved in money diversion.
The court held that the Prosecution counsel was unable to establish a prima facie case against Dr. Michael Owoicho Odeh.
“You would recall that, the Prosecution with the leave of Court, preferred a Nine (9) Count charge, ranging from Criminal Conspiracy, Theft, Misappropriation, Criminal Breach of Trust, Received Stolen Property and Concealment of Stolen Property against Orji Ifeoma Sharon Stella and Dr, Odeh which is, punishable under sections 97, 309, 312, 287, 289, 317, 319, 323, and 364 of the Penal Code Laws respectively”, said the Judge.
However, when the matter came up for hearing the Police called 14 witnesses and tendered Exhibits P1 to P41 and admitted in evidence, while evidence from the accused persons were Exhibits D1 to D5.
He said that during the hearing of the Prosecution’s case, the Counsel to the accused persons (1st and 2nd) made a No Case Submissions, to which the Prosecution made a joint reply to the No Case Submission.
During the hearing process, the Bank Account activities of Dr. Odeh and that of his Hospital El-Roi, were frozen.
According to the Judge: “The entire allegations of conspiracy is totally unfounded on unsubstantial suspicion of the nominal complainant, and totally not supported by any evidence.
“Throughout the length and breadth of the nominal complainant’s evidence, he never linked the 2nd Accused person (Dr. Odeh) with the alleged diversion of funds from Choco Condiments Nig. Ltd.
“It further shows that this Count of Conspiracy, just like all the other Counts proffered against the 2nd Accused person (Dr. Odeh), are just based solely on the figments of the PW13’s imagination and baseless suspicion, PW6, who is one of the IPO in his evidence”.
