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Ibinabo to serve five year jail term, Appeal Court insists

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Ibinabo to serve five year jail term, Appeal Court insists

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Friday, threw out an appeal by ex-beauty queen and actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, challenging a Lagos High Court judgement which sentenced her to serve five years in prison for the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj.

Ibinabo was sentenced by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi for reckless driving which caused the death of Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of the High Court, Fiberesima, approached the Appeal Court through her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, urging the court to set aside the five years sentence and restore the verdict of N100, 000 sentence handed down by a Magistrate Court.

However, the Appeal Court on Friday dismissed the appeal and upheld the verdict of the High Court.

Read also: Court slams N10m fine on Ibinabo for cheating

The court, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, said ruled that the trial Magistrate Court lacked the discretion to grant Ibinabo an option of fine after her conviction.

The court further held that the appeal lacked merit and thereby dismissed it accordingly.

Ibinabo, who was visibly apprehensive throughout the proceeding, could not hold back her tears immediately the judgment was delivered.

Her counsel, Nnaemeka Amaechina, speaking after the judgement, said they would proceed to the Supreme Court, as a Notice of Appeal has already been filed.

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