JOSEPH UBI IGRI V. THE STATE

CHUKWUMA-ENEH JSC (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Calabar Judicial Division (lower court) dismissing the appeal against the judgment of the High Court (trial court) sitting at Ugep Judicial Division that convicted andsentenced the appellant and his co-accused to death by hanging for the grisly murder of one Mary Obongha Inah (deceased ) The facts of the case are that the appellant and a co-accused, one Ekpo Obongha Mbang, were arraigned before the trial court at Ugep for the murder of one Mary Obongha Inah on 13 April 2001, contrary to section 319(1)of the Criminal Code Law of Cross River State. The appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution opened its case and called 6 (six) witnesses to prove the charge preferred against the appellant (and his co- accused)who testified in hisdefence but called no witness. At the conclusion of the trial, the appellant and the co-accused Ekpo Obongha Mbang both having been …