SIMEON LALAPU V. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

PAUL ADAMU GALUMJE, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellant herein was arraigned before the High Court of Bayelsa State on a two counts charge of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping under Section 444(a) and 291(b) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C14, Laws of Bayelsa State 2006. When the charge was read and explained to the Appellant, he pleaded not guilty. In order to prove its case, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered in evidence, 1. Call log from airtel, 2. Attestation form, 3. Extra-judicial statement of PW2, the victim of the alleged offence, 4. Extra-judicial statement of the Appellant. They were admitted in evidence and marked Exhibits A, B, C and D respectively. The wife of the Appellant testified as DW1 and the Appellant testified as DW2. Learned counsel for the respective parties addressed the Court. In a reserved and considered judgment delivered on the 9th May, 2014, Aganaba J. found the Appellant guilty as charged and sentenced him to five year…