The convict, Ganiyu Wahab, who was
reportedly arraigned for murder and sentenced to death at the Lagos
State High Court in Ikeja on July 2, 2007, has now been discharged and
acquitted.
The Nation reports that Wahab was accused of stabbing one, Kolawole Lateef Alaran, to death with a broken bottle in the Agboyi area of Lagos on January 23, 2005.
Wahab was reportedly discharged following an appeal by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), against his conviction.
The reports reveal that the judgement which was delivered by a panel led by Justice Abimbola Osarugue Obaseki- Adejumo on Wednesday, July 13, overturned his conviction and death sentence.
The
appeal was based on the fact that Wahab's conviction had been made on
the evidence of a lone witness, whose confessional statements were
reportedly erroneous.
Wahab's lawyer, Chino Obiagwu said:
“This
is another opportunity to reiterate our calls for an in-depth
re-evaluation and urgent overhauling of our criminal justice system,
especially as it relates to the use of capital punishment. We cannot
continue to sentence innocent persons to death, only for the appeal
court to upturn the judgment after a decade or more.”
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