Rex V. Ajayi Omokaro (1941)

LawGlobal Hub Judgment Report – West African Court of Appeal

Murder—Conviction based entirely upon evidence of confessions by Appellant.

The judgment sets out the one point raised. Appeal dismissed.

R. v. Sykes 8 C.A.R. 233 followed.

Unsworth for Crown.

Appellant in person.

The followi.ng short judgment was delivered:—

BUTLER LLOYD, ACTING C.J., NIGERIA, BAKER AND BROOKE, JJ.

The only question raised by this appeal is whether a conviction based entirely upon evidence of confessions by appellant can stand. The case of Sykes 8 C.A.R. p. 233 affords clear authority that such evidence is sufficient. The learned trial Judge enquired most carefully into the circumstances in which the alleged confessions were made, one of them before a European Assistant Commitisioner of Police, and was satisfied of their genuineness.

The appeal must be dismissed.