A Lagos-based truck-for-hire driver simply identified as ‘Mr A’ for private reasons has been set free after spending three years in prison over an armed robbery allegation.
The Justice Project, a group of pro bono lawyers providing reformative legal services to inmates, recounted his journey to freedom on Monday.
The driver used to park his truck by the roadside, boldly displaying his phone number for any interested customer to engage his services.
Three years ago, some armed robbers who pretended to be harmless customers engaged him to transport some items.
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As they approached a police checkpoint, his hirers began fidgeting and instructed him to make a quick U-turn, but the innocent driver had still not realised the true identity of his customers, the X post from The Justice Project, a non-profit justice reform initiative, wrote read.
Mr. A walked out of court on October 10 as a free man after three years in prison, having been charged with murder and armed robbery. He was a driver who operated a truck-for-hire service in Lagos. He usually parked the truck with his number and the inscription “For Hire” on it. pic.twitter.com/nIWRlaPtgm— The Justice Project (@thejusticepro) October 21, 2024
“Mr A walked out of court on October 10 as a free man after three years in prison, having been charged with murder and armed robbery. He was a driver who operated a truck-for-hire service in Lagos. He usually parked the truck with his number and the inscription ‘For Hire’ on it,” The Justice Project said.
“One evening in 2021, someone hired him to move some loads. They sighted a police checkpoint on their way, and his hirers told him to turn around and speed off. He was confused because he had his car papers and driver’s licence and didn’t have to run from the police.”
As the driver was trying to process the strange instruction from his hirers, a pistol appeared before his face and he could not argue.
“He was more baffled when he saw a pistol pointed at him. It was too late to obey or argue, and the police were approaching. His passengers jumped off the truck and engaged the police in a gun duel that left one officer dead.”
Confident that he had no skeleton in his cupboard, the driver came out of his hiding and presented himself to the police. He identified himself as the vehicle driver.
He was eventually presented before a court. But his expectation of coming out clean was unduly prolonged as the police could not produce any witness to establish his guilt of murder, which was later amended to armed robbery.
“He was confident he would be vindicated when he told his story in court, but the chance never came. He did not stand trial for almost two years, a dilemma faced by thousands of inmates of Nigeria’s custodial centres who never have their day in court, innocent or guilty.
“The murder charge was later dropped, and he was re-arraigned in 2023 for armed robbery. He faced another dilemma, as there was no witness to establish the crime against him. Every adjournment for witnesses to come was an extended time in prison, and there was almost no end.
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“The Justice Project learnt of his case and stepped in. When his matter was called again, the prosecution affirmed no witness could be found. The court, concerned about the seriousness of the charge but presuming him innocent in the absence of accusers, set him free.
“This is at the heart of what we do at The Justice Project: we represent the defenceless and underrepresented inmates of prisons. We also rehabilitate them and advocate for change in the administration of the criminal justice system in Nigeria.”
The post The Justice Project Secures Release of Truck Driver Framed Up for Murder, Imprisoned for 3 Years Without Trial appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.