ATAINE HELEN BANDO V. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

NDUKWE-ANYANWU JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Lagos State delivered on 3 November 2014 by Hon. Justice O. A. Ipaye, wherein the learned trial judge sentenced the appellant to one year imprisonment without option of fine for the offence of conspiracy to present false documents for visa application. The facts leading to this appeal are as follows: The appellant, together with two others were arraigned at the trial court on 16 counts information dated 15 November 2013 to which the appellant pleaded “ not guilty” to all the counts. Before the commencement of trial, the appellant with the other accused persons entered into a plea bargain and sentence agreement with the respondent.

It was agreed as follows:

1. That the charges against the defendants should be reduced to single count information.

2. That the defendants shall plead guilty to the said count.

3. That each defendants shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not e…