the time of trial or application is heard, unless there is any provision to the contrary. - Kpema V. State (1986) 3 NWLR pt 17 p 396. - Adeyeye V. Ajiboye (1987) 3 NWLR pt 61 p 432. - Zubair V. Kolawole (2019) 33 WRN 51 at 83 lines 25-30 per Nweze JSC. In consideration of all the foregoing, it is the humble view of this court that since there is no any clear intention in the Sokoto State Penal Code Law No. 4 of 2019 that the law was intended to have a retrospective effect, the appropriate organic or substantive law and Sections of the law relevant to the charges as filed by the prosecution, must be captured right from the onset. Consequently and henceforth in this Judgment, Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Causing Grievous Hurt contained in the three (3) counts charges filed by the prosecution against the Defendants, will be deemed as punishable under Sections 97(1), 298(b) and 247 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law Cap. 104 Laws of Sokoto State 1996 respectively being the Penal Code Law in force in Sokoto State as at 20th December, 2018. The Sections provide as follows:“91(1). Whoever is a party to a Criminal Conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death or with imprisonment shall where no express provision is made in this Penal Code for the punishment of such a Conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence. Page 8 of 27

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