the Appellant. Counsel relying on Akinwunmi v The State (1987) NWLR (Pt 52)
608 submitted that the Respondent failed to establish the ingredients of the offence
of conspiracy.
On issue 3: whether the learned trial Judge properly directed himself as to the
burden and standard of proof, having regard to the nature of the issues placed
before him made a proper approach to the evidence led by the prosecution and the
defence, counsel relying on The State v. Usman (2005) 5 ACLR 45 at 49 ratio 39
submitted that the burden of proof in a criminal matter rests squarely on the
prosecution and the prosecution must not only prove that a crime has been
committed by the accused person, but must also prove it beyond reasonable doubt.
Counsel submitted that the Respondent did not prove its case beyond reasonable
doubt. He opined that the evidence which the prosecution presented before the
Court was simply that the 2nd accused was caught with forged documents with
which he intended to use to -clear two containers; that the Appellant gave two bills
of lading to PW 10 in order that he may assist him in clearing the said containers
and nothing more. Counsel submitted that most of the Respondent’s witnesses who
testified during the trial, testified either to the fact that they kept the drugs in safe
custody or that they oversaw the taking of the statements of DWI and DW2.
Counsel submitted that the Respondent's star witness was PW9, who is a Staff
Officer in charge of investigation in the NDLEA. His schedule of duties included
coordinating surveillances, liaising with their international counterparts;
coordinating some operations and investigation of cases. He investigated and gave
his evidence which in the main was that he received intelligence report about three
suspicious containers coming from Bolivia and suspected to contain drugs. PW9
gave evidence as to how the Appellant and the 2nd accused person were arrested on
the 21st of January 2011 followed by the arrest of Ibrahim Maidurumi, PW 10 and
the clearing agent Audu Ismail. The summary of the said evidence as presented by
the Respondent purportedly pointed to the fact that the container with bill of lading
No. MSCU1287321 which purportedly contained the 165kg of cocaine was
believed to belong to the Appellant who was being assisted by the 2nd accused to
clear the said container. Counsel submitted that these facts were not proved beyond
reasonable doubt.
Counsel submitted that there were crucial issues during the trial which the learned
trial Judge ought to have made definite findings of fact on. These are:
1. Why the container in issue was opened by the Respondent and the JTF in
contravention of the procedure for opening suspected containers said to contain
drugs;
2. Whether in reality, there was drug in the container;
3. Whether the Appellant and the 2nd accused indeed conspired to import the drugs;