A magistrate court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, has approved the transfer of the alleged rape case involving Moses Armstrong, the actor, to the state high court.
In June, the police arrested the actor 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 thereafter petitioned the wife of the state governor with respect to the rape allegation.
When the actor was arraigned on Tuesday, Moreen Udoka, the judge, struck out a suit by the prosecution seeking to remand the actor.
The judge dismissed the suit when A. Nyongessien, 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.
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