July 20, (THEWILL) – A magistrate court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, has authorised the transfer of Moses Armstrong’s alleged rape case to the state high court.
Police arrested the actor in June, for allegedly raping a minor. He allegedly committed the act with a 16-year-old girl about three years ago.
The alleged victim, who was said to have been schooling outside Nigeria, returned to the country recently and petitioned the wife of the state governor with respect to the rape allegation.
When the actor was arraigned on Tuesday, the judge known as Moreen Udoka, struck out a suit by the prosecution seeking to remand the actor.
The judge dismissed the suit when A. Nyongessien, who is the prosecutor, mentioned that it has been filed at the state high court.
This means a hearing on the suit would be at the state high court subsequently.
The development makes it the second time that different judges would strike out the suit.
Nyongessien had earlier prayed the court to also remand the actor when he was arraigned last month.
But Samuel Ukoima, the first judge, who handled the case, had also dismissed the suit, saying it lacked merit.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) had earlier suspended the actor over the rape allegation.
