Alhaji Musa Sani V. The State (2015)

LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report

MUHAMMAD SAIFULLAH MUNTAKA-COOMASSIE, J.S.C.

The case of the prosecution is that the Appellant, Musa Sani, was said to have committed the offence of Armed Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. He was said to have committed the alleged offence on the 28th day of May, 2008. The Appellant has emphatically denied knowing anything about the alleged Robbery as he was at LUNAR HOTEL at about 2.30 – 3.00 a.m. when the offence was said to have been committed. In a nutshell the Accused, now Appellant put up the defence of Alibi which the prosecution did not believe.

The prosecution on the 8th day of June, 2009 charged the Appellant together with one Ifanye Amah before the Katsina High Court in a charge of Armed Robbery punishable under Section 1(2) of the said Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11, Laws of the Federation 2004.

CHARGE:

“THAT YOU ALH. MUSA SANI Of behind Zakka house, Kofar Marusa Lowcost Katsina and IFANYE AMAH of old Olympic hotel, Kofar Kaura Layout Katsina, Katsina Local Government Area of Katsina State, on or about the 28th day May 2008, committed robbery in that you did an act to wit: attacked and robbed one ABDULLAHI MOHAMMED (alias BODA) THE SUM OF Nine hundred and fourty thousand naira (N940,000:00); and at the time of the robbery you were armed with offensive weapons to wit: cutlass and iron rod, with which you threatened him and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap RII Laws of the federation 2004.”

Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution, in order to establish their case against the two accused persons, called Six Prosecution Witnesses, three of which were to be eye witnesses who testified as such. The two Accused persons including the Appellant made voluntary statements to the Police which were tendered in court as Exhibits. ….. The defence called two witnesses in their defence. None of the defence witnesses testified to the effect that the Appellant was not at the scene of the crime or the Appellant was with him or her at the time and hours the Appellant alleged that he was at Luna Hotel. The Appellant’s Counsel at the trial High Court kept mum vis-a-vis the defence of alibi.

At the end of the proceedings, in a reserved judgment, the learned trial court judge found the accused persons guilty and that they have no defence to the charge. Both Accused persons were then convicted of the offence and sentenced both to death. Even though the trial Judge Sada Abdu-Mumini J. confessed that the prosecution did not properly investigate this case. However the trial Judge nonetheless convicted the Appellant and the 2nd Accused and sentenced them to death. The trial Judge says on page 39.

“I have carefully examined all the circumstance of the case. I think the case has not been properly investigated. The two Accused persons in their respective statements Exhibit 1 and 2 have created the defence of Alibi by saying that at or about the material time. Of the robbery they were at Lunar Hotel Katsina. If there were proper investigation the police ought to have investigated this aspect of the statements prosecution have tendered the statement as evidence in the matter knowing very well what they contained. Proper investigation if conducted would have revealed if what the two Accused persons claimed were true or not i e whether they are at Lunar Hotel at the time they claimed or not”.

The 1st accused person, Musa Sani now the Appellant, unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal hereinafter called court below.

The Appellant filed an appeal against the judgment of the trial court on the three grounds, namely:-

“Ground 1

The learned trial judge erred in law when he convicted the Appellant under section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms Act and sentenced him to death where the prosecution failed to establish the ingredients of the offence against him.

Particulars of Error

a. No weapon or firearm was linked to the Appellant in any way in the course of the trial.

b. The Robbery and Firearms Act provides that theft with the use of weapons or actual force or ground a conviction for armed robbery which the prosecution failed woefully to do.

c. The learned trial judge admitted the fact that there was no proper investigation by the police (prosecution) but still went ahead to convict and sentenced the Appellant to death.

d. Nothing incrimination was found with or on the Appellant (accused person) by the Police to evidence theft or armed robbery.

e. Theft was not established against the Appellant”.

Ground 2

“The learned trial judge erred in law when he held that “I think the case has not been properly investigated. The two accused persons in their respective statements exhibit 1 and 2 have created the defence of alibi by saying that at or about the material time of the robbery they were at Lunar Hotel Katsina” but still convicted and sentenced the Appellant to death for armed robbery notwithstanding his clear defence of alibi”.

Particulars of Error

a. The prosecution (police) ought to have investigated the Appellant defence of alibi which was raised by the Appellant at the earliest available opportunity, but did not.

b. The alibi of the Appellant was never challenged by the prosecution before and during trial.

c. Failure to investigate the alibi ought to have been resolved in favour of the Appellant”.

Ground 3

The learned trial judge was in error when he admitted the cutlass and iron rod in evidence as exhibits 3 and 4 when it is not relevant to the case nor connected to the Appellant in anyway.

a. There was no evidence that exhibits 3 and 4 (cutlass and iron rod) were recovered from the Appellant.

b. PW4, PW5 and PW6 who are police officers never connected exhibits 3 and 4 which are cutlass and iron rod to the Appellant neither did they give evidence of where they were gotten from.

c. The Honourable trial judge in his judgment said “the iron rod exhibit 4 has not been linked with the case in any way”.

The court below unanimously dismissed the appeal of the Appellant. Hon. Justice Orji-Abaduwa, JCA., wrote the lead judgment, and held on p. 35- 36 thus:

“Furthermore I would not hesitate to take refuge under the Supreme Court’s decisions in Nwaturuocha vs.

The State in Suit No. S.C.197/2010 delivered on 11/3/11, in which it was held that where the Appellant was identified by the Prosecution witness, without any equivocation, a straight issue of credibility will arise, that is to say, where an alibi has been raised and there is visual positive identification of the accused, which is believed by the trial Court, the Appellate Court should not disturb such a finding i.e. where there is more credible evidence fixing the accused person with the commission of the crime, the defence of alibi will not avail him, per J.A. Fabiyi, J.S.C. His Lordship went further to say that proof beyond reasonable doubt is not proof beyond all iota of doubt, and it not be stretched beyond reasonable limit, otherwise it will cleave. It should be recalled that the incident was said to have taken place after about 3.00 am, and that was after the Appellant and his friends had allegedly left the Lunar Hotel at 2.30 am.

In view of the foregoing, I entirely agree with the conclusion reached by the trial Court which I believe did not allow any sentiment to overrun its reasonings. Accordingly, this appeal is hereby dismissed. I hereby affirm the conviction and sentence of the Appellant by the trial High Court”.

The Appellant still not satisfied, he again appealed to the Supreme Court and filed a Notice of Appeal containing four (4) Grounds of Appeal. They are hereunder with particulars stated.

GROUNDS OF APPEAL:

A. “The verdict is altogether unreasonable, unwarranted and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence.

B. The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in Law in upholding the Judgment of the trial Court which convicted the Appellant and sentenced him to death for the offence of Armed Robbery under Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Cap RII, Laws of the Federation 2004 when the prosecution failed to establish the ingredients of the offence of Armed Robbery against him”.

PARTICULARS

“i. No weapon or firearm of any nature was linked to the Appellant in any way as that used in the commission of the offence in the course of trial.

ii. The Robbery and Firearms Act provides that theft with the use of weapons or actual force must exist in order to ground a conviction for armed robbery which the prosecution failed woefully to do.

iii. The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence passed on the Appellant despite the record of the trial Court wherein the learned trial Judge found as a fact that there was no proper investigation by the police (nay Prosecution) but still went ahead to convict and sentenced (sic) the Appellant to death.

iv. Nothing incrimination (sic) was found or on the Appellant by the police to evidence theft or armed robbery.

v. Theft was in no way and/or manner any case or wrong established against the Appellant”

C. “The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law in failing to uphold the defence of alibi put forward by the Accused/Appellant and which was raised at the earliest opportunity and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

i. Alibi was raised by the Appellant as a part of his defence.

ii. The alibi was raised at the earliest opportunity when the Appellant was making his statement to the Police.

iii. The alibi was not punctured or destroyed under cross-examination in any way whatsoever.

iv. Yet the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal upheld the Judgment of the trial Court that the defence of alibi does not avail the appellant and that the appellant was properly fixed to the scene of crime”.

D. The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in Law by failing to hold that EXHIBIT 3 and 4 (that is cutlass and iron rod) tendered in evidence were worthless, of no evidential value and ought not to be relied upon by any reasonable Tribunal in conviction (sic) the Appellant for the offence of Armed Robbery.

PARTICULARS:

i. There was no evidence that exhibits 3 and 4 (cutlass and iron rod) were recovered from the Appellant.

ii. PW4, PW5 and PW6 who are police officers never connected exhibits 3 and 4 (which are cutlass and iron rod) to the Appellant neither did they give evidence of where they were gotten from.

iii. The Honourable trial Judge in his judgment made a finding of fact that: “The iron rod exhibit 4 has not been linked with the case in any way”.

iv. The above state of fact notwithstanding, the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and the sentence passed on the Appellant by the trial Court”.

“2

(a) any offender mentioned in Subsection (1) of this Section is armed with firearms or any offensive weapon or in company with any person so armed,

or

(b) at Or immediately after the time of the robbery the said offender wounds or uses any personal violence to any person, the offender shall be liable upon conviction under this act to be sentenced to death.

Learned Appellants Counsel then submitted that for the Prosecution to be successful under the above Section it must prove and also establish beyond reasonable doubt the following ingredients:-

(i) That there was robbery;

(ii) that the accused person committed the robbery and was armed with offensive weapon; and

(iii) that at or immediately before or after the robbery, the accused person wounded or used personal violence to any person.

Learned Appellant’s counsel relied heavily on the following authorities:-

1. John v. The State (2011) 18 NWLR (1278) at p.372, paras E-F 383 – 384, paragraph D-B; OSUAGWU Vs. STATE (2009) 1 NWLR (Pt.1123) 523 at 536 paras D – E; Oguntola vs. State (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt.1049) 617 at 635 paras G – H”.

I intend to completely agree with the learned counsel for the Appellant for enumerating the above ingredients of the offence of Armed Robbery. The authority of Osuagu v. The State supra, the decision of the Court of Appeal Oyo Division, although persuasive could be a clear stance of the law. Fasanmi JCA, has this to say:-

“Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty. To succeed in a charge of armed robbery or robberies the prosecution must prove:

“i). That there was a robbery or series of robberies.

ii). That each robbery was an armed robbery.

iii). That the accused was one of those who took part in the armed robbery or robberies. He refers to the case of Boziu vs. State (1998) 1 ACLR at P1. And or Bozin v. State (1983) 2 NWLR (Pt.81) 4652”.

Also Oguntola v. State supra part 1049 at p. 635 per Okoro JCA as he then was. Both authorities are of persuasive authority.

The Prosecution woefully fumbled when it failed to prove the first ingredient, namely whether there was armed robbery or not.

Learned Appellant’s Counsel argued that the robbery did not take place on the said date of 28th May, 2008. He then submitted that there was nothing from the evidence adduced by the prosecution to clearly show that the alleged robbery took place on the said 28th May, 2008. The evidence of the so called victim of the robbery was full of contradictions and confusion. When such confused evidence was subjected to the powerful cross-examination, it collapsed like a pack of cards. He could not even recollect the date of incident. Another Prosecution witness, Counsel contented, testified and he said he knew nothing about the day the purported robbery took place. He only knew that the accused, now Appellant, was transferred from Sabon Garri Police Station to State C.I.D Office Katsina on 1st July, 2007 at about 13.00 hours and referred to their team for investigation. That was the shaky evidence of PW6. See page 25 of the record of Appeal. By this evidence of PW6, the Appellant and the co-Accused were transferred to them before the armed robbery took place.

On pages 22 and 23 of the Record of Appeal, there was another useless piece of evidence by the PW5, Yunusa Adamu. Learned counsel contended that the exhibit keeper had knew nothing about the armed robbery. All that he knew is that a matchet of about 2 feet long of wooden handle and a rod of about 1’bd feet long were given to him for safe keeping. He refers to pages 22 and 23 of the Record of Appeal. Learned Appellant’91s Counsel submitted that in the absence of any credible evidence of the facts that the offence of armed robbery was committed together with the day same took place, the trial court cannot be right in convicting the Appellant and sentencing him to death, and also the Court of Appeal cannot conveniently uphold the conviction of the Accused/Appellant for the offence of armed robbery.

Learned Counsel contended that on whether the armed robbery really took place, there is nothing to show that PW1, i.e. the so called victim, was actually robbed of N940,000.00. This is so, counsel argued, because the purported victim failed to disclose the source of the said money. My Lords, counsel further contended that the trial court was rather left on a cross road as to speculate whether the said sum of money was actually stolen. Counsel continued to contend that in finding of fact, a court must base its decision on evidence before it as no court is permitted to speculate on evidence. He relies on the case of: OFORIETTE VS. STATE (2000) FWLR (Pt.12) 2081 at 2103 paras 15.

Counsel contended that in addition that is in the evidence in chief, the victim i.e. PW1, has stated that he was robbed of N940,000.00, one (1) computer, two (2) cameras and three (3) mobile phones. However, the charge against the Appellant only contained the sum of N940,000.00 and all other items were excluded.

Counsel refers to page 11 Lines 4-12 of the Record of Appeal. And submitted on this point that the trial court and the court below did not consider the consequences of the aforesaid inconsistencies.

As if it is not enough, Learned Appellant’s counsel further contended that there was no robbery committed at all. This is because PW1, the so called victim clearly testified that robbery attack on him was on Saturday 28th May, 2008 after he came back from a naming ceremony where he performed. In his words:

“It was on Saturday in the year 2008 in the month of May we returned from naming ceremony in the house of A. Dahiru Mangal. It was in the night around 3.00 a.m…….”, See page 10 lines 17 – 20. Counsel continues and states that the date of the robbery on the charge – sheet is 28th May, 2008, which is a WEDNESDAY”.

Learned Counsel then submitted that such discrepancy should not arise in the light of the fact that (the purported victim of the robbery) claimed he reported the incidence to the Police the next day at about 10.00a.m. which should be documented. See p.11 lines 20 – 21 of the record. These doubts created by the inconsistencies on the evidence of PW1 ought to have been resolved in favour of the Appellant. See the following cases:-

1. Shehu vs. State (2010) All FWLR (pt.523) 1841 at pp 1865 – 1866, paras H-A;
2. Afolabi Ali v. State (2010) All FWLR (pt.538) 812;
3. Posu vs. State (2011) All FWLR (pt.565) 234 at 245 paras B-E;
4. Orji vs. State (2008) All FWLR (pt.422) 1093 at 1109, paras B – C.

Learned counsel further submitted that the only 28th day which falls on a Saturday in 2008 is in the month of June. Thus there was no armed robber on 28th May, 2008 which fell on Wednesday as against Saturday as testified by the PW1. Therefore the purported armed robbery was a mystery and created doubt as to whether it actually occurred. He then accordingly urged us to resolve this doubt in favour of the Appellant following the decision of:-

State vs. Azeez (2008) 14 NWLR (Pt.1108) 439 at 483, paras B – F; 501 paras D – F.

Curiously, Appellants Counsel contended that none of the Prosecution witnesses beside PW1 made mention of what Abdullahi Mohammed was robbed. In fact, the Police in their investigation did not ascertain what PW1 lost to the robbery. Counsel again stated that little wonder, no mention was made of the purported sum of N940,000.00. It is accordingly, counsel added, submitted that and he urged this Court to hold that the purported carting away of N940,000.00 by the Appellant was a farce.

It was also at page 14 lines 5 – 7 of the Record, PW2, Ibrahim A, testified of the fact that he too lost the sum of N4,000.00 to the robbery. PW3, on the other hand, gave evidence on page 15 lines 11-13 that:

“Myself, Abdullahi Mohammed Ibrahim hands were tied. My money and handset were removed. The money taken was N3,000.00…..”

In order to prove that there was no armed robbery at all, the Appellant’s counsel further argued that the evidence of loss of money by the PW2 and PW3 are mere after-thought and most irrelevant to the arrival of a decision as to whether the purported robbery did occur. This is because the loss of the said amounts of money was neither part of the charge before the court nor in the proof of evidence based on which the Appellant was tried and convicted.

My Lords, Counsel compared the proof of evidence in Criminal Proceedings with Statement of Claim in civil matters. He submitted that a proof of evidence in criminal case is like a Statement of Claim in Civil cases, it should be explicit and should not hide anything from the other party as law is not a game of hide and seek. Thus, according to the Appellant’s Counsel, all facts, evidence and exhibits should be brought to fore to enable the Appellant prepare for his defence. See: –

a) Olowoyo v. State (2012) 17 NWLR (pt 1329 – 1346 atp.371, paras D – E.

b) Josiah v. State (1985) NWLR (pt.10) 125.

c) Ogunsanya vs. State (2011) 12 NWLR (pt.1261) 401.

The Respondent adopted his brief in which he accepted and adopted the issues as presented by the Appellant. The Respondent attempted to respond to the Appellant’s position but failed to sincerely answered all the weaknesses highlighted by the Appellant. The submissions of the Appellant are cogent and credible.

It is clear as stated earlier on, that the prosecution could not in law prove credible and reliable evidence to show that an armed robbery has occurred on the 28th May, 2008 at the time they stated in the role charge.

There was no evidence to link the Appellant with the incident of the robbery. The other monies stated in their evidence which was alleged to have been removed from the PW2 and PW3 were never inserted in the charge. The Appellant could not properly plead accurately to the contents of the charge.

The money said to be stolen from the PW1, the so called victim of the armed robbery, could not be ascertained. The source of the money could not be established.

It is amazing that the police did not recover anything on the Appellant immediately the robbery took place. That is something like gun, wooden knife or the money lost during the said armed robbery. There was no such armed robbery that day. The exhibits were not linked to the Appellant.

The prosecution maintained a very material contradiction as to the date the said armed robbery took place, was it on Saturday 28th/5/2008 as put by the Prosecution Or 28/5/2008 which fell on Wednesday i.e. whether it was on Wednesday which is 28/5/2008 or 28/6/2008 This is a very serious and material lapse which the respondent could not satisfactorily explained and cleared.

How can report of armed robbery incident be reported to the Police before the incident occurred The purported armed robbery is really a mystery and fake. This, without saying, has actually created material doubt as to whether that armed robbery has actually occurred. I think, I will not go astray if I resolve this doubt in favour of the Appellant. I refer to State vs. Azeez (2008) 14 NWLR (pt.1108) 439 at 483 paras B-E 501 paras D – F. Where at paragraph B – E Mahmud Mohammed JSC now CJN, has this to say-

“The Law is well settled that where there is doubt in a criminal trial, such doubt is resolved in favour of the accused person. This Court per Wali JSC, held in the case of Chukwu vs. State (1996) 7 NWLR (pt.463) 686 at 701 G – H as follows:-

“Where Prosecutions evidence is found to be contradictory on a material issue, the court should give the benefit of that doubt to an accused person that stems from the non-credibility of such evidence and discharge and acquit him”.

I have closely and carefully looked at the issues for determination as distilled by the parties in this appeal. I have also thought over the position of the prosecution. It is a fact, that can never be altered, that the Prosecution failed woefully to establish any ingredient of the offence of armed robbery. It is clear that there is no credible evidence coming from the testimonies of the Prosecution witnesses to show that an armed robbery has taken place on the charge put to both accused persons – Alhaji Musa Sani; and Ifenya Amah.

The Appellant herein put up a defence of alibi and provided the address, date and time. However the police failed woefully to investigate the truth of the Appellant’s plea. Police merely did not believe the Appellant and they relied on the so called eye witnesses to dismiss the plea of alibi. While in actual fact, there is no iota of doubt that the Police refused to conduct any investigation at Lunar Hotel Katsina. This failure to conduct such investigation created serious lapses in the conduct of Prosecuting this case. All the issues distilled by the Appellant and adopted by the respondents are pregnant with tremendous merits same are hereby resolved in favour of the Appellant. Appeal is therefore meritorious and is allowed.

The conviction and sentence dished out on the Appellant are hereby set aside and in their place the Appellant is acquitted and discharged forthwith.

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SC.36/2013