cross examined by the defendant. In the case of EKPENYONG VS. THE
STATE (1991) 6 NWLR Pt. 200 Pg. 683, Kolawole JCA at page 696
paragraphs D – G held as follows:
“The learned trial judge was clearly wrong to have used
Exhibit H for two reasons. Learned counsel for the appellant in
the Court below did not ask that the Court should make use
of Exhibit H in his address for any purpose. Exhibit H was
not tendered for the purpose of cross examination as to
previous statement made in writing in pursuance of Section
198 of the Evidence Act or for the purpose of impeaching the
credit of the witness in pursuance of Section 209 of the
Evidence Act.
In LAYONU & OTHERS VS. THE STATE (1967) 1 ALL NLR
198 Brett JSC observed at page 207 thus:
“In our experience the principle has always been applied,
as it was in R VS. ADEBANJO 1935 2 WACA 315, to
any
written
statement
in
the
possession
of
the
prosecution which was made by a witness called by the
prosecution and relates to any matter on which the
witness has given evidence. Such a statement is not
evidence of the facts contained in it and the only use to
which the defence can put it is to cross-examine the
witness on it and then if it is intended to impeach his
credit, to put the statement in evidence for that purpose.”
The authorities therefore have established that in a situation
like the instant one where the witness whose statement has
been admitted never testified at all, the statement Exhibit H
should never have been considered as evidence of the facts
13