Next of kin of retired Teachers win case against Police *Martins Johnny judgement hailed

Next of kin of retired Teachers win case against Police

*Martins Johnny judgement hailed

A Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has dismissed the case filed against three protesters by Akwa Ibom state Assistant commissioner of police, DEINA ABIBO for lack of merit.

The accused persons, all members of the Next Of Kin Of Late Primary School Teachers, were arrested on January 23rd 2017, during their protest for payment of their late parents’ entitlements at the government house.

They were charged on two counts, including constituting a nuisance during their protest at the government house gate and conspiracy to breach peace through the protest.

Delivering his judgment on the matter today, chief magistrate MARTINS JOHNSON of the state Magistrate Court 2, held that the ACP ABIBO failed to prove his case against the accused persons.

He therefore ruled that the case was frivolous, baseless and lacking in merit; hence the accused persons stood discharged and acquitted. Reacting to the judgment, in a chat with newsmen, the defence council barrister INIBEHE EFFIONG hailed the judgment as accurate, given that the complainant had confessed that the protesters were peaceful.

Barrister EFFIONG therefore urged the state government to initiate the payment of entitlements of the late teachers, without further delay, as this judgment has cleared all obstacles hindering such payment.

The accused persons were ENOBONG KENNETH, UTIBE SUNDAY and BENSON BENJAMIN. Speaking with newsmen, the just-freed persons hailed the wisdom of the court in the matter.

According to them, today’s judgment is victory for the down-trodden and all pensioners whose entitlement are still being owed by the state government.