The Supreme Court of Nigeria has been left to decide an appeal filed by a robbery suspect on death row, Mr. Akeem Jimoh.
The apex court has also been urged to decide if the state can play the role of prosecutor and defender in a criminal matter.
This followed an appeal court’s position against the lower court’s verdict on Jimoh, which stated that the state cannot be the prosecutor and at the same time, the defence in a criminal trial.
However, if the Supreme Court upturns the appeal court judgment, it then means the attorney-general, who is always the prosecutor in a criminal matter against the state can also represent an accused person in the same matter.
While giving its judgment in a case involving a man the appeal court sitting in Ibadan had ruled that Jimoh did not get fair trial since he was not allowed to get a counsel of his choice before he was sentenced.
Guardian.ng
