SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal in Lagos on Friday, dismissed an appeal by popular Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima seeking to upturn her five-year jail term in the lingering case of reckless driving, which caused the death of a Lagos state government doctor, Suraj Giwa in 2005.
Ibinabo was sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of a Lagos High Court for reckless driving on the Lekki-Epe Expressway and knocked down Giwa, killing him in the process.
A Magistrate court (court of first instance) had earlier given the appellant an option of N100,000 fine for the offence which was however, set aside by the high court which replaced the option of fine with a jail term, instigated by the state government.
Dissatisfied, Ibinabo had filed an appeal through her lawyer, Mr Nnaemeka Amaechina, urging the court to set aside the five-year sentence.
Delivering judgment on Friday, the appellate court dismissed her appeal and affirmed the decision of the Lagos High Court.
In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, the court held that the trial Magistrate Court lacked the discretion to have granted Ibinabo an option of fine having been convicted adding that the appeal lacked merit and consequently dismissed it.
Ibinabo, also a former beauty queen, wept profusely after the judgment was delivered on the 10-year-old manslaughter case
Meanwhile, her lawyer, announced that Ibinabo, former president, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN will be exploring the Supreme Court adding that a notice of appeal had already been filed.
Story by David Oputah
