PW2 gave ev id e nc e o n "h a 1 happ e ned o n th e d~t) of lhL i11ciclcn1 . Cou nsd
submi17ed thaL considernrions s uc h as th e kngth
tim e th e \\ ilness saw !h e
\___ · defenda nt is importa nt in de rermining \\·h er her th e w itn ess positi ve ly identified the
accused p erson .. For exa mple. vvhe1her ir ,-v~1s a l a g hlnce or h a\'i ng a longer
observation a nd opponuni1y of close observarion . S he conlended tlwt Ili c armed
robbery incide nt happe ned in broad day light; !here/o re th e re was enough limt.: fo r a
close observation by P\V I and PW2 .
or
Learned co un se l ma int a ined that rhe robbery was an a rmed one . Thal the ~le /cnd c1n1
,vas in company with an armed person . Therefore the defendant was an adcomplice .
She submitted rhat the defendant was positively recognized and identified by PW I
a nd PW2 . Learned counsel submitted that an identification parade is nol obligatory
where there is good and cogent evidence linking the defendant to the crime on the
da v of incident. Counsel referred to Afofrllu vs. State Supra. Bolanle VS . State.,
s upra . It was further s ubmitted that a spontaneous identification of an accused
perso n is more reli ab le than identification parade . Ochiba vs . State supra, is referred
to and relied upo n.
On the issue of the evidence of PW4 . lea rned counsel argued that being part of the
investigating tea m that in ves ti ga ted th e crime, PW4 has the capacity to give
evidence and render the extra judicial sra re m ents . She submitted that confessional
sta tement is an official record of th e police. Therefore, a policeman can tender
official rec o rd of a fellow police ofti ce ,·. She referred to Awosika vs. The State
(:?O l 0) 9 N WLR (pl l l 98) 49 (q! 76 . She contended thc!t exhibit PJ is the
defendant' s confessio na l s tat e m ent in w hi c h he gave vivid description of how he
and one Dozie Akparanku robbed the Capad filling Station vvith a locally made
pi s tol. Learned co unsel refers to S . 28 of Evidence Act and submitted that exhibit
··PJ " clearly comes within S . 28 of Ev idence Act. Therefore, the subsequent denial
of the statem e nt by the defendant is an afterthought. To show that the retraction by
th e defendanr is an afterthoughr, learned counsel queried how the rn ves ligating
Police Officer reco rded acc urately rhe person a l derails of the defendant . Contending
th at s uc h information is personal only knmvn to rhe defendanL Counsel submitted in
c1 conl'cssiona l s wtemenl, w here a n accused person admitted c1ll the essemial
e lements of an offen ce a nd which shows unequivocally, his direct and pos itive
participation in the crime, he can be convicted . The case of Odu vs . FRN (2002) 5
N WL R (pr 761) 615 . Was referred to and relied upon .
On the iss ue of 11 0 1 calling v ital vvi tn ess, lea rned counsel submiltecl that ii is th e
prerog a rive
the · pros ecution to ca ll w irnesses rele vn nt to its case and it is 11 01
bound ro ca ll every person th a t was linked to the sce ne of crime by physic~ll
presence to give evidenc e of v.1hat he saw. She referred to Ochiba vs . State, s u1;r;1.
or
Finall y learned co un s el s ubmiu e cl 1ha 1 th e iss ue in · respect of' vo luntarinL"ss or
o1hern is e o J' ex hibit P 3 /1c15) been ruled ulll because tltc docum e nt w~,.s t1d111iucd i l.S
exhihi1 " P3 .. I ec1 rncd co un sel urge d 1hc co11n w hold 1liu1 thL· prnsL·c uli()IJ lw.':i
pru , cd thL· Cd ~ l · .1g:11n.':> l the: c.kli.: 11d~1nl.
Pag e
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