The Court of Appeal in Lagos on Friday threw out an appeal by Nollywood actress and President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima challenging a jail term slammed on her by a Lagos High Court.
Ibinabo was sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of a Lagos High Court for reckless driving which led to the death of a hospital staff.
She was reported to have driven her car carelessly on the Lekki-Epe Expressway and knocked down a man, Giwa Suraj.
Suraj was said to be a staff of a Lagos state’s hospital.
A Magistrate court (court of first instance) had earlier given the appellant an option of N100, 000 fine for the offence. The judgment of the magistrate was, however, set aside by the high court which replaced the option of fine with a jail term.
Fiberesima had filed an appeal through her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, urging the court to set aside the five-year sentence. Delivering judgment on Friday, the appellate court dismissed Fiberisima’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the Lagos High Court.
Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, in his verdict held that the trial Magistrate Court lacked the discretion to have granted Ibinabo an option of fine having been convicted.
The court further held that the appeal lacked merit and consequently dismissed it.
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