FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V AKEEM OGUNROMBI

Issue:

When arraigned before the trial court on 23rd of May, 2012 and as borne out from page 4 of the printed record of proceedings, it was shown that the charge was read to the accused person now respondent and the trial court recorded that he pleaded guilty of consuming the drug and not dealing with it. On that backdrop the prosecuting counsel one Mrs. O.A. Ogar applied to amend the charge but the trial court quickly jumped and-ruled that no charge would be amended and thereupon ordered the prosecuting counsel to review his case and ordered that he should proceed with the case. The learned prosecution counsel thereupon called his two witnesses and tendered some exhibits. Upon concluding with his two witnesses the trial court made some observations and comments on the charge and the evidence adduced by the prosecution in proof of the charge and it ultimately ask the accused to present his allocutus remarks before the learned trial judge finally convicted the respondent and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment. Piqued by the judgment of trial court, the respondent appealed to the lower court, which allowed his appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence passed on the respondent by the trial court, apparently due to, inter alia, the failure of the trial court to provide an interpreter throughout the proceedings. It is worthy of note that throughout the proceedings the respondent was not represented by counsel. Miffed by the decision of the lower court in discharging and acquitting the respondent, the appellant has now appealed to the Supreme Court.