where he gave his explanations were not produced and
those
produced
had
their
annexures
removed
or
tampered with.
It is curious that the prosecution did not in any way
contradict or challenge the said piece of evidence.
In MOHAMMED v STATE (Supra) the Apex Court held as
follows:
“Suppression of evidence in any trial civil or criminal
is a violation of the principle of fair hearing
entrenched in our Constitution.
allegation
which
must
not
be
It is a serious
made
lightly.
Suppression of evidence is a denial of justice. Once
it is established that evidence in a trial has been
suppressed, such a trial should be set aside”
The question that comes to mind is why would the
prosecution failed to front-load the said statement of the
Defendant made to STF1 in their proof of evidence? This
to my mind goes to show that the prosecution had
confirmed the Defendant’s version that some of his
statements and documents were suppressed..
In the Supreme Court case of OGUDO v THE STATE (2011)
18 NWLR Pt 1278 Pg 1 at 52 – 53 the Apex court held thus:
45