The weapon possession and terrorism charges leveled against four Lebanese nationals by the Department of State Security Services were on Wednesday thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Cliff Osagie, in his application to withdraw the charges, told the court that further probe against the accused persons showed that the offences for which they were charged before the court are clearly outside the scope and jurisdiction of the court.
Responding, Ahmed Raji, counsel to the accused persons, informed the court that he had already filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case and therefore will not object to the application for withdrawal of the charges filed by the prosecutor.
Having listened to both parties, Magistrate Muyiwa Oyeyipo granted the prayer of the prosecutor and struck out the case against the four accused persons who were subsequently discharged.
The men are suspected of having links to the Islamist militant group Hezbollah with terrorism and possession of illegal arms, after authorities said they found heavy weapons in one of their homes.
