By the established principles of criminal justice, it is trite law that in criminal trial it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendants who is alleged to have committed a crime. - Ajibade V State {2013}8ncc 221 - Smart V. State {2016} LPELR 40827 - Akinola V. State {2015} LPELR 25986 The rationale behind this duty upon the prosecution, is derived from the constitutional presumptions of innocence of a defendant alleged to have committed a crime as guaranteed by the provisions of section 36(5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. As to the offence of criminal conspiracy which is the 1st count charge, apparently both counsel in their respective written addresses, submitted that there is no evidence of agreement by the defendants from which an inference can be drawn that the defendants agree to do an illegal act, or a legal act by illegal means. As according to them, there is nothing in the body of the evidence showing that the defendants have a common intention to commit any crime. They therefore submitted that the prosecution has failed to prove the allegation of criminal conspiracy against the defendants and urge the court to acquit the defendants and discharge them. The prosecution on the other hand, submitted that as to the offence of conspiracy, exhibits A, A1, B, B1, C and C1 which are the statement of the defendants shows that there was an agreement by the defendants Page 3 of 11

Select target paragraph3