Friday Smart V The State (2016)
LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report
OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR, J.S.C.
This is an appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, delivered on the 6th day of March, 2012, wherein it affirmed the death sentence pronounced by an Ondo State High Court on the appellant for conspiracy to commit Armed Robbery and Armed Robbery contrary to Sections 5(b) and 1(2) (b) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act.
Trial commenced before Odusola J. of an Ondo State High Court on the 13th day of May 2008. The Respondent (the State) called two witnesses while the Appellant gave evidence in his defence. He did not call anyone to give evidence in his defence.
The following were admitted as exhibits:
(a) “A – A3 statements of Appellant
(b) “B” locally made pistol
(c) “B1 ” one cartridge.
The trial came to an end on the 15th day of October, 2008 with both counsel adopting their written addresses.
In a well considered judgment delivered on the 13th of November, 2008 the learned trial judge found the Appellant guilty on all counts, i.e conspiracy to commit Armed Robbery and two counts of Armed Robbery.
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The learned trial judge had this to say:
“…from this statement reproduced, it is clear that the accused confessed to the commission of the crime. The statement describes in graphic details the manner and means of committing the robbery and how the proceeds were shared. I therefore do not believe the accused when he denied in open Court that he never made any statement at the police station throughout the period he was under arrest. He did not deny that the information contained therein was false. It is also noted that there was no objection to the admissibility of Exhibits A – A3. No single witness was called by the Accused at the trial…”
On this reasoning the learned trial judge found the three counts proved beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the Appellant to death.
The Appellant was dissatisfied with the sentence of death, and so filed an appeal. The Court of Appeal
Akure Division found no merit in the Appeal and dismissed it. This appeal is against that judgment.
Briefs of argument were eventually filed and exchanged by counsel. Mr. I. Okoli filed the Appellant’s brief on 19/6/12, while A.O. Adeyemi – Tuki esq., the Ondo
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State Director of Public Prosecutions, filed the Respondents brief deemed duly filed and served on the 10th of July, 2013.
Learned counsel for the Appellant, I. Okoli esq., indentified three issues for determination of this appeal, They are:
ISSUE 1
Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the trial Court rightly attached much weight to Exhibits A-A3 (the alleged confessional statements of the Appellant) and convicting the Appellant thereon.
ISSUE 2
Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Appellant did not properly raise the defence of alibi and that the defence did not avail the Appellant.
ISSUE 3
Whether the Court of Appeal was right in upholding the trial Court’s conviction of the Appellant for the offences of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.
Learned counsel for the Respondent also identified three issues for determination to wit:
ISSUE 1
Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were right in affirming the conviction and sentence of death imposed on the Appellant (solely on the Appellants confessional statements) in the light of evidence before
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the Court.
ISSUE 2
Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Appellant did not properly raise the defence of alibi and that the defence did not avail the Appellant.
ISSUE 3
Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were right in holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt at the trial Court.
I have examined the issues formulated for determination of this appeal by both sides. It is clear that the issues are the same. I shall in the circumstances consider the three issues formulated by learned counsel for the Appellant. The issues are straight to the point, and highlight the real grievance of the Appellant on points of law which I think need some explanation, for example, the legal effect of a confessional statement, the defence of alibi, and the standard of proof required in criminal trials and when that standard is attained by the prosecution.
Once again the three issues formulated by the Appellant shall be considered.
At the hearing of the appeal on the 5th day of October 2015, learned counsel for the Appellant, Mr. I. Okoli simply adopted the Appellant’s brief filed on
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the 19th of June, 2012 and urged this Court to allow the appeal.
Learned counsel for the Respondent, Mr. G. Oyewole adopted the Respondent’s brief deemed filed on the 10th of July, 2013 and urged this Court to dismiss the appeal.
THE FACTS ARE THESE
The Appellant and other persons still at large conspired to rob the Cooperative Bank at Ifon in Ondo, State. On the 17th day of October, 2001 they were armed with guns when they arrived at the bank between the hours of 9.a.m, and 10 a.m. At that time PW1 Bolarin Sunday Andy was in the Bank, and in the process of crediting the account of Top Crown Petroleum Ltd Ifon with the sum of Sixty-six thousand, eight hundred and sixty naira (N66,860.00) when all of a sudden a man came into the bank armed with a gun, ordering everyone to lie down. Everyone complied as other members of the gang came into the Bank, collected money from Bank officials and PW1, then fled while the robbery operation was in progress the Appellant was the lookout man. He stood at the main gate of the Bank.
Police investigations commenced thereafter and within a few days the Appellant was arrested with a locally made pistol. He
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made three statements to the police on 30/10/2001 – Exhibit A, 1/11/2001 – Exhibit A2 and 30/1/2001 – Exhibit 43.
In Exhibit A – he made a comprehensive confession wherein he explained how the robbery was committed and the proceeds shared. On the strength of his confession the state charged the Appellant on one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and two counts of armed robbery. The Appellant entered not guilty pleas to all the three counts. The counts are as follows:
COUNT 1
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Conspiracy contrary to and punishable under Section 5 (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap 398. Vol. XXII Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (as amended).
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
Friday Smart ‘M’ and others at large on the 17th day of October, 2001 at about 9.a.m. at Cooperative Bank PLC Ifon, in the Ifon Judicial Division conspired together to commit felony to wit: armed robbery.
COUNT 2
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Armed Robbery, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap 398. Vol. XXII. Laws of the Federal of Nigeria, 1990.<br< p=””
</br<
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PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
Friday Smart ‘M’ and others at large on the 17th day of October 2001 at about 9.a.m. at Cooperative Bank PLC Ifon, in the Ifon Judicial Division, while armed with offensive weapons to wit: gun did rob cooperative Bank PLC Ifon at the Bank hall of their cash worth One million, seven hundred and Nine thousand, and one hundred Naira.(N1,709. 100.00) only.
COUNT 3
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Armed Robbery, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 398 Vol. XXII Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
Friday Smart ‘M’ and others at large on the 17th day of October 2001 at about 9.a.m. at Cooperative Bank PLC, Ifon, in the Ifon Judicial Division, while armed with offensive weapons, to wit: gun did rob Top Crown Petroleum Ltd Ifon at the Bank Hall of Cooperative Bank PLC of their cash worth N66,860.00 (Sixty-six thousand eight hundred and sixty Naira) only.
The trial Court found the Appellant guilty on the three counts and sentenced him to death. This judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeal. Still dissatisfied, the Appellant
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appealed to the Supreme Court.
I shall now consider the issues seriatim.
ISSUE 1
Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the trial Court rightly attached much weight to Exhibits A-A3 (the alleged confessional statements of the Appellant) and convicting the Appellant thereon.
Learned counsel for the Appellant argued that since the Appellant in his testimony denied making the confessional statements the trial Court ought to have exercised adequate caution in relying on the statements and should have properly evaluated the weight to be attached to the said statements. He observed that it was fatal to the Respondents case not calling the investigating Police officer who took the Appellant’s confessional statement. Reliance was placed on Section 167 (d) of the Evidence Act, 2011. Edoho v. State (2004) 5 NWLR (Pt.865) p.17
Concluding, he submitted that no weight should be attached to Exhibits A -A3, contending that both Courts below were wrong to convict the Appellant on the said statements.
Learned counsel for the Respondent observed that the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the conviction and sentence of the
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Appellant in the light of Exhibits A-A3, (the confessional statement of the Appellant) which were tendered at the trial Court without any objection from the defence counsel or the Appellant himself.
He further observed that where the confessional statement is tendered and admitted without objection but later retracted by the accused person such retraction cannot vitiate the proceedings.
Reliance was placed on Nwachukwu v. State (2004) 17 NWLR (Pt 902) p.273
Arguing further learned counsel observed that there is evidence outside the confession which makes the confession true.
He urged this Court to resolve this issue in favour of the Respondent.
Exhibit A, the confessional statement of the Appellant runs as follows:
“I voluntarily elect to state as follows:
I am a native of Sobe in Edo State. I attended Catholic Primary School, Sobe and stopped at Primary five because of my father Smart Okutabor who died. My mother is still alive, she is at Benin. Her name is called, Aga. I am not married. I live in my father’s house at Sobe. My father married up to five wives. My mother have two children namely-Patricia Ohenren ‘f’ and
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myself. That my sister is my senior and she is at Ore, a hair dresser. It is correct that I go robbed. My gang members are Ogbi, Aspa, Sonya, Segun, Odowu and Kehinde.
Na only cooperative Bank at Ifon about last week which I follow them to robbed. Ohe Ugor is also our member. These one operation which for be the one I go followed them, na reserve we blocked road and I no followed them, na Segun lead the operation. I go Ore to meet one of my brothers called Sgt Godwin Age. It is almost three weeks now that Ogbi came to tell me and our members Sonya, Kehinde, Segun, Ugor Odowu and Aspa that security at Cooperative Bank, Ifon come tell him that there is money in the Bank because they wanted to bring money come to the Bank.
And we come ready and we go meet Pima a Police corporal that we want to go operation for Ifon. It was Segun that meet Pima and he come signed two guns give us plus local made gun with us come make three guns.
He signed two pistols give us. And we come snatched one “raining” passat which was coming from Benin at Reserve. We then used it go Ifon. We go Cooperative Bank, Ifon. It was Ogbi that drive the passat which is ashes
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colour. We parked the vehicle near the gate and we drived the security comot. Two policemen in the bank also run, as they see us we shot two times for up. Me stand at the main gate and three come entered the Bank while the rest stayed outside dey guard. It was Soniya, Odowu and Ugor entered the Bank. And when the three comot out they hold “Ghana Must Go” bag packed money come. Na inside the bank we bring the Ghana Must Go Bag. And we then take off from the Bank with the motor wey we bring come. As we dey go towards Benin we dropped the passat motor for Agric before check point as the fuel don finished and we come snatched another motor which is Baby Benz. We come put the Ghana Must Go bag inside the Baby Benz and drive to Reserve where we parked the Baby Benz and then carried the money go inside Reserve go share. My own share na N300,000.00 (three hundred thousand naira) being that na only two of us small pass the rest. After the sharing, na him everybody find his way. I go hide my own at our backyard for our house. I digged ground near the bush at our backyard and hide my own share there. It was about six days ago that, one policeman whom I cannot recollect
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his name now come to arrest me in the Reserve where I wanted to go to Benin. He arrested me that I am a suspect that, we go robbed bank. I told him that no be me and took me to Ifon Police Station. And at Ifon Police Station they asked me about my gun and I just denied it but when Segun, my partner confessed to them that he know where we keep the gun and police come followed Segun to bring the gun where I keep it inside the farm. It was after the raiding forgo farm and keep the gun. It is the gun we used for Ifon Bank.
The people who operated in the bank are myself, Segun ‘M’ Aspa Spniya MM’ Oldom Igor ‘M’ and Kehinde ‘M’. These my gang members can be at Sobe town now. It was around 9.a.m. and 10 a.m. that we go robbed the bank at Ifon.”
Section 28 of the Evidence Act, 2011 states that:
“A confession is an admission made at any time by a person charged with a crime stating or suggesting the inference that he committed the crime.”
To my mind confessions are statements which are direct acknowledgments of guilt. There is said to be a confession once a person makes a voluntary admission of his participation in a crime.
A careful reading of
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Exhibit A reveals that on the 17th day of October, 2001 the Appellant in company of named
persons, still at large, and armed, raided the Cooperative Bank, Ifon and made away with cash.
The fact that the Appellant was in company of others still at large for the sole purpose of stealing from the Bank, and they did steal from the bank, is conclusive evidence that they conspired to steal from the Bank. The offence of conspiracy is established. Armed Robbery is stealing while armed. Exhibit A is an admission by the Appellant that he participated in conspiracy to rob and armed robbery as charged.
The long held position of the law is that a free and voluntary confession which is direct and positive and properly proved is sufficient to warrant a conviction without any corroboration. SeeQueen v Itule (1967) 2SC NLR p.183 Aremu v State (1991) 7 NWLR (Pt.201) p.1
Jimoh Yesufu v State (1976) 6SC p.167
Adekoya v State (2012) 3SC (Pt.III) p.36
It is well settled that an accused person can be convicted on his confessional statement alone but before a conviction can be sustained on a voluntary extra judicial confession the Court must subject
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the statement to the test laid down in R v Sykes 1913 8cr App p.233, The Courts have adopted that test.
See
P. Kanu v R 1952 14 WACA p.30
J. Dawa v State 1980 8-11 SC D.236
Kopa v State 1971 1 ALL NLR p.150
The test would enable the judge decide the weight to be attached to a confessional statement. That is to say the truth of a confessional statement must be established. The following must be answered to the Courts satisfaction.
- Is there anything outside the confession which shows that it may be true.
- Is it corroborated
- Are the relevant statements of facts made in it true as far as they can be tested
- Was the prisoner one who had the opportunity of committing the offence
- Is the confession possible
- Is the alleged confession consistent with other facts which have been ascertained and established.
It is desirable but not mandatory that some evidence outside the confession is available, however slight of circumstance which make it probable that the confession is true.
The well laid down rule is that a free and voluntary confession proved to the satisfaction of the Court is
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enough proof of guilt without any corroboration.
Exhibit A having been proved to be positive, direct and made voluntary since there was no objection when it was tendered and admitted as an exhibit can sustain a conviction, Furthermore the evidence of PW1, PW2, and Exhibits B – B1, a locally made gun and cartridge recovered from the Appellant are evidence outside Exhibit A which clearly links the Appellant with the commission of the offences for which he was charged. Indeed Exhibit A, the confessional statement of the Appellant easily passes the test spelt out in R V Sykes (supra). In the circumstances the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the trial Court was correct to attach much weight to the Appellants confessional statements and convicting him on them.
The Appellants in his testimony denied making the confessional statement when he said in his testimony in Court.
“It is not correct that on 17th day of October 2001, along with others robbed the Cooperative Bank PLC Ifon …
I told the Police that I did not know anything concerning the robbery of Cooperative Bank …”
In law what happened in Court when
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the Appellant gave evidence was that he resiled or retracted his statement at the trial. What then is the position of the law when an accused person makes an extra judicial confession but while given testimony in Court he disowns the statement or makes a u-turn In R. v Golder 1960 1 WLR p.1169. The inconsistency rule was explained by lord Parker CJ when he said that:
“When a witness is shown to have made previous statements inconsistent with the evidence given by that witness at the trial, the jury should not merely be directed that the evidence given at the trial should be regarded as unreliable, they should also be directed that the previous statements, whether sworn or unsworn do not constitute evidence upon which they can act.” SeeQueen v Ukpong (1961) 1 ALL NLR p.25
State v Okoro (1974) 2 SC p.73
Ikemson v State (1989) 3 NWLR (pt.110) p.455
Egboghonome v State (1993) 9 SCNJ p.1.
My lords, the inconsistency rule applies to witnesses and not to an accused person. The witness is also given an opportunity while giving evidence on oath to explain the inconsistency. The rule is applied when the witness fails to explain the
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inconsistency. On the other hand the inconsistency rule does not apply to an accused person who resiles from his extra judicial statement.
So once an extrajudicial confession as in this case has been proved to be made voluntarily, it amounts to guilt of the accused/appellant. A conviction would be held to be good regardless of the fact that the accused person resiled or retracted in his testimony in Court. The retraction by the Appellant is clearly an afterthought.
WHETHER NOT CALLING IPO A VITAL WITNESS WAS FATAL TO THE PROSECUTIONS CASE.
A vital witness is a witness whose evidence is very important, since this testimony decides the case either way. It follows that where the prosecution fails to call a vital witness the prosecution’s case may crumble like a park of cards. There were two investigating Police officers in this case, CPL Omage Stephen and PW2 Inspector Abayomi Adeleye. Both of them investigated the case and at the end of their investigation recommended that the Appellant be charged for conspiracy and armed robbery.
Both of them are well abreast of the facts of the case. Either of them is vital witness for the prosecution. Both of
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them if called to give evidence would give similar testimony in Court, consequently the prosecutions failure to call both of them to give evidence is not fatal to the prosecution case. The testimony of PW2, a vital witness is enough. It would suffice. Where there are two investigating Police officers, but the prosecution called one who knows all about the case, not calling the other investigating Police Officer is not fatal to the prosecution’s case.
Section 167 (d) of the Evidence Act, 2011 states that:
“167. The Court may presume the existence of any fact which it deems likely to have happened, regard shall be had to the common course of natural events, human conduct and public and private business, in their relationship to the facts of the particular case, and in particular the Court may presume that-
(d) evidence which could be and is not produced would, if produced, be unfavourable to the person who with holds it.
Learned counsel for the Appellant relied on Section 167 (d) of the Evidence Act to support his argument that not calling investigating Police Officer who took the Appellants confessional statement was fatal to the
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Respondents case.
Section 167 (d) of the evidence Act is to the effect that when a party withholds useful evidence the presumption in law is that it would go against the party who withheld it if produced. The presumption created is against the withholding of documentary and oral evidence. The presumption applies generally to failure to lead evidence on pleaded facts, and not failure to call a particular witness.
See Babuga v. State (1996) 7 NWLR (Pt.460) p.279
Onwujuba & Ors v. Obienu & Ors (1991) 4 NWLR (Pt.183) p.16
A.G. Adamawa State v Ware (2006) 4 NWLR (pt.970) p.399
Nigerian Airforce v. Obiosa (2003) 4 NWLR (Pt.810) p.233.
In his testimony in the trial Court the Appellant said:
“…… At Sobe Police Station they did not allow me to make statement. I was brought to Ifon Police Station. The investigating Police Officer who recorded my statement at Ifon Police station is from my village.”
My lords, since the Appellant’s statements made at Ifon Police Station were tendered as Exhibit A-A3, no useful evidence was withheld. Anyone of the investigating Police Officers could tender the Appellant’s
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confessional statements. Section 167 (d) does not apply to failure to call a particular witness.
Judges Rules are not Rules of law but merely Rules of administrative practice. Compliance with the Rules ensures that confessions are voluntary. The Rules lay down how confessional statements are made. An accused person who intends to make a confessional statement must be cautioned by the Police before the statement is made. After the statement is made the accused person signs or thumb impresses it. The statement and the accused person are then taken before a superior Police officer. There was strict compliance with the judges Rules in the preparation of Exhibits A-A3.
Furthermore neither the Appellant nor his counsel objected to the admission of the said confessional statements when they were tendered and marked Exhibits A-A3. The exhibits were properly made and properly admitted in evidence.
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE APPELLANT’S CONFESSIONAL STATEMENT, EXHIBITS A – A3 ADMITTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
Little fragments from the proceedings in the trial Court on the 29th day of July, 2008 runs as follows:
“Accused in Court,
Mr. Daniel Agbede
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for the State Otunba Henry Orumen for the accused PW2: Sworn on Holy Bible state in English language and give evidence as follows:
I am Abayomi Adeleye an inspector attached to the Nigeria Police Station Igbotako Ondo State….
From my findings, I discovered that accused was one of the robbers that raided the Bank. The three statements said to be made by the accused were shown to the witness which he identifies.
Counsel seeks to tender the statements
Otunba Orumen: No objection
Court: The three (3) statements of the accused made at different times dated 30/10/2001, 1/11/2007 and 30/11/2001, are admitted as Exhibit A – A3.”
When a confessional statement is admitted without objection from the maker or his counsel, the law implies that the maker of the statement agrees with everything in the statement. It also means that the maker made the statement voluntary and it is the truth on his role in the crime. The Appellant confessional statement, Exhibits A – A3 is conclusive evidence that the Appellant conspired with other person at large to rob the Cooperative Bank, Ifon on 17/10/2001 and did rob the said bank while armed with offensive weapon
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to wit: gun, and in company of other persons also armed and still at large
ISSUE 2
Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Appellant did not properly raise the defence of alibi and that the defence did not avail the Appellant.
Learned counsel for the Appellant observed that the Appellant gave evidence of his whereabouts on the date of the alleged robbery at the earliest opportunity, and the onus was on the prosecution to disprove the alibi raised but the prosecution failed to do so. He submitted that the Court of Appeal was wrong to hold that the Appellant did not raise the defence of alibi promptly. Reliance was placed on Ogoala v. State (1991) 2 NWLR (Pt.175) p.509.
Learned counsel for the Respondent observed that the Appellant did not promptly and timeously raise the defence of alibi when he was arrested or in his statement to the Police. He referred to Samson Ebenehi & Anor v State (2009) 6 NWLR (Pt.1138) p.431.
He urged this Court to resolve this issue in favour of the Respondent.
Affirming the decision of the trial Court the Court of Appeal said:
“…. therefore, if the defence of alibi is raised
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for the first time during the trial of the accused, it is not competent or potent as the prosecution would have been denied the prior opportunity to investigate, verify and/or disprove such an alibi. If an alibi is raised for the first time during trial, or at the defence stage of the trial as in this case, it is an ambush of the prosecution by the defence and such an alibi can be validly ignored.”
When an accused person relies on the defence of alibi, it means that he was not at the scene of the crime when the offence for which he is charged was committed. It is the duty of the accused person at the earliest opportunity to furnish the investigating authorities with comprehensive details of his whereabouts on the day the offence was committed.
Once this is done the onus is on the prosecution to investigate the alibi, and the standard of proof required to establish the defence of alibi is one based on balance of probabilities. A plea of alibi is demolished if the prosecution adduces compelling and sufficient evidence to fix the accused person at the scene of the crime at the material time. See
Gachi v State (1965) NMLR p.333
Obiode v State
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1970 1 ALL NLR p.35
Nwosu v State 1976 5SC p.109.
The offences for which the Appellant was charged were committed by him on 17/10/2001. He made three statements within forty-five days after committing the offences. That is on 30/10/2001 – Exhibit A. 1/11/2007 – Exhibit A2, and 30/11/2001 – Exhibit A3. The defence of alibi was not raised in any of these statements. The defence of alibi was made on 5/8/2008, Seven years after he committed the crime. The defence of alibi was not raised at the earliest opportunity, it was raised too late thereby making it impossible for the police to investigate it. The Courts below were correct to disregard the alibi as it was clearly worthless, an afterthought.
An alibi is raised by the accused person and investigated by the Police before trial and not during trial. It is wrong for the Appellant to raise the defence of alibi for the first time during trial. Such antics denies the police the opportunity to investigate it. The alibi which was raised for the first time during trial was correctly ignored, and both Courts below were right in this regard.
The well laid down position of the law is that a plea of
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alibi is demolished if the prosecution adduces compelling and sufficient evidence to fix the Appellant at the scene of the crime at the material time. The Appellant’s confessional statements, Exhibits A – A3, Exhibits B – B1 – the locally made gun and cartridge found with the Appellant and the testimonies of PW1 and PW2 show beyond doubt that the Appellant was at the scene of the crime and did participate in the crime on 17/10/2001. This overwhelming evidence makes an alibi not worth examining or considering. It becomes very clear that the Appellant did not properly raise the defence of alibi, consequently the defence of alibi does not avail the Appellant.
ISSUE 3
Whether the learned justices of the Court of Appeal were right in holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt at the trial Court.
Learned counsel for the Appellant observed that the essential ingredients of the offence of conspiracy, were not proved against the Appellant to justify his conviction by the trial Court, since the prosecution could not establish that there was any agreement between the Appellant and any other person. Reliance was placed on Obiakor
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v State (2002) 10 NWLR (Pt.776) p.612.
He argued that the prosecution ought to have provided evidence to corroborate Exhibits A-A3. He submitted that the prosecution did not prove the offence of conspiracy against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt. On the offence of armed robbery he submitted that the evidence of PW1 and PW2 did not link the said robbery at the Cooperative Bank PLC to the Appellant. He submitted further that the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients of armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt. Reliance was placed on Bozin v. State (1985) 2 NWLR (Pt.8) p.465.
He urged this Court to acquit and discharge the Appellant.
Learned counsel for the Respondent observed that conspiracy is often proved by circumstantial evidence and rarely by direct evidence. Reference was made to Exhibit A.
Obiakor v. State (supra)
Concluding he submitted that Exhibit A proves the agreement between the Appellant and others to do an illegal act to wit: armed robbery.
On whether the prosecution proved the offence of armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt, reliance
was placed on Exhibit A – A3.
Egboghonome v. State (1993) 7
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NWLR (Pt.306) p.383.
He urged the Court to dismiss the appeal.
Section 135 of the Evidence Act, 2011 provides that the burden is on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused person beyond reasonable doubt.
Where the prosecution fails to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt the accused person is entitled to an acquittal.
In Nwaturuocha v. State (2011) 6 NWLR (Pt.1242) p.170
I explained proof beyond reasonable doubt thus:
“Proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean proof beyond all doubt, or all shadow of doubt. It simply means establishing the guilt of the accused person with compelling and conclusive evidence. A degree of compulsion which is consistent with a high degree of probability.
The burden to prove a criminal offence beyond reasonable doubt is discharged when the prosecution proves the ingredients of the charge beyond reasonable doubt.
The Appellant was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery. Now, the essence of conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to do an unlawful act. The agreement may be express or implied, but the offence of conspiracy is complete
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once the parties agree to effect an unlawful purpose. It must be noted that a conspiracy is a continuing offence, other persons may join an existing conspiracy and become parties to it. For example if X approaches Y and asks him to join him and Z in robbing a Bank, when Y agrees he becomes guilty of conspiracy to rob. This highlights the point that it is not necessary for all the parties to a conspiracy to be in contact with each other. What is necessary is that all the parties to the conspiracy have a common purpose communicated to at least one other person to the conspiracy. The agreement between the parties must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, and an inference or circumstantial evidence of an agreement would do.
Extracts from Exhibit A, reads:
It is almost three weeks now that Ogbi came to tell me (that) and our members, Kehinde, Segun, Ugor, Odowu and Aspa that security at Cooperative Bank, Ifon come tell him that there is money in the bank because they wanted to bring money come the bank We come ready and we meet Pima a Police Corporal that we want go operation for Ifon.
The Appellant and others at large agreed to rob the cooperation
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bank. They finalised their plans when they were given guns by Pima, a Police officer. The agreement was consummated when they stormed the bank ordering everyone to lie down while they proceeded to relieve the vaults of the bank of cash.
It becomes obvious that the Appellant and others at large acted in concert. A meeting of the minds of the robbers is easily inferred. They agreed to rob the bank, and carried out their agreement successfully. The offence of conspiracy is proved beyond reasonable doubt, by the confession of the Appellant.
THE OFFENCE OF ARMED ROBBERY
To succeed in a case of armed robbery contrary to Section 1 (2) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 1990 the prosecution must prove the following beyond reasonable doubt.
(a) that there was a Robbery
(b) that the accused/appellant was armed, or was in company of any person so armed.
(c) That the accused/appellant while armed participated in the Robbery.
Relevant extracts from Exhibit A reads:
“… Two Policemen in the bank also run, as they see as we shot two times for up.”
By the Appellant’s own confession he was in the company of
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other persons who were armed when he and his gang stormed the cooperative bank Ifon, for an armed robbery operation. The ingredients of the offence of armed robbery were proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Once again I must restate the position of the law and it is that if a person makes a free and voluntary confession, that is direct and positive, and it is properly proved, the Court is at liberty to convict on the confession alone without any other evidence. There are several authorities that says so. See Queen v Itule (1961) 2 SCNLR P.183
Ejinima v State (1991) 6 NWLR (Pt.200) p.627
Kim v State (1992) 4 NWLR (Pt.233) p.17
Nnamdi Osuagwu v State (2013) 1 2 SC (Pt.1) p.37.
A confession is a statement made by an accused person admitting that he is guilty of a crime. It is the best evidence in a criminal trial.
The learned trial judge in considering the confessional statements of the Appellant sought and found evidence outside the confessions to corroborate the confessions. The evidence e.g. Exhibits B – B1, and the testimonies of PW1 and PW2 were compelling and overwhelming and he was on firm ground convicting the
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Appellant.
This is a case of concurrent findings of fact by the two Courts below. Concurrent findings of fact are rarely upset by this Court, but this Court would upset such findings and state the correct position if satisfied that there has been exceptional circumstances such as:
(a) the findings cannot be supported by evidence or are perverse; or
(b) there was a miscarriage of justice; or
(c) the Court overlooked some principle of law or procedure.
Concurrent findings of fact by the two Courts below based on the free and voluntary confession of the Appellant is that on 17/1/2001 the Appellant while armed with offensive weapon to wit: gun and in the company of others also armed but still at large robbed the Cooperative Bank, Ifon of the sums of money stated in counts 2 and 3 The Appellant has not presented before this Court any reasonable argument or submission to upset these findings of fact, and no exceptional circumstance is shown either.
In the end I find no merit in this appeal. The appeal is dismissed.
SC.170/2012
