IMO DENIS AKPAN OBOT V. THE STATE

MUHAMMED LAWAL SHUAIBU, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the  High Court of Akwa Ibom State sitting at Ikot Ekpene, Coram Hon. Justice Stephen E. Okon delivered on 4/11/2013 wherein the appellant was convicted for murder and accordingly sentenced to death by hanging. The appellant being dissatisfied filed this appeal on 15/6/2017 upon four grounds of appeal. 

At the hearing of the appeal on 15/5/2019 Chief Paul C. Obi on behalf of the appellant adopted and placed reliance on the appellant’s brief filed on 15/2/2018 but deemed as properly filed on 15/5/2019 in urging this Court to allow the appeal. Learned Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko adopted and relied on the respondent’s brief also deemed as properly filed on 15/5/2019. He urged this Court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety.

Learned counsel for the appellant distilled three issues for the determination of this appeal as follows:-

​1. Whether the learned trial jud…