Police withdraw criminal charge against bizman, co-defendant

The Inspector-General of Police has withdrawn and discontinued the criminal charge filed against Nigerian businessman, Austin Albert, and his co-defendant, Jinadu Musbau Olalekan, before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The withdrawal affects the amended charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/388/2026, in which Albert and Olalekan were listed as the first and second defendants respectively.

The case is before Justice Ahmed Ibrahim Kala of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

In a Notice of Withdrawal and Discontinuance dated July 24, 2026, the police informed the court of its decision to withdraw the charge against the defendants.

The notice was filed pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

According to the notice, the decision followed the emergence of “certain facts” while the case was pending, prompting the prosecution to withdraw and discontinue the charge to enable it conduct further findings.

The police, however, did not disclose the nature of the facts that emerged or the specific issues that necessitated the withdrawal.

The notice stated: “Notice is hereby given of the prosecutor’s withdrawal of this charge generally against the defendants in view of the fact that while the charge was pending, certain facts emerged that requires the withdrawal and discontinuance of the matter for further findings.

“Hence, the Complainant hereby withdraws and discontinue this case against the Defendants generally pending the outcome of the findings please.”

The withdrawal brings the present charge to an end at this stage, although the police may take further action depending on the outcome of the findings referred to in the notice.

No further details were contained in the withdrawal notice on the nature or scope of the proposed findings.