Let me start from the beginning so it's easy to understand. In 2005,
actress and mother of three Ibinabo Fiberesima was involved in a vehicle
accident on Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos that cost a man his life. She
vied off her lane and hit the car of a doctor, Giwa Suraj, who was a
staff of Lagos state hospital. Ibinabo was arrested for dangerous and
reckless driving and charged to court.
The case went to court and the Igbosere magistrate court sentenced her
to five years in prison with an option of N100k fine. Ibinabo apologized
to the man's family, paid the N100k fine and thought the case was over
but the Lagos state government objected to the fine and took the case to
a high court...
The High Court then said that the Magistrate court
was reckless when they gave Ibinabo an option of fine for such an
offence. The High court judge tossed out the N100k option and sentenced
Ibinabo to five years in prison, saying that such an offence - reckless
and dangerous driving which causes another person's death is liable to 7
years in prison. Ibinabo's N100k was subsequently given back to her.
So she and her lawyers took the case to court of Appeal, asking the
court of appeal, Lagos Division, to set aside the prison sentence and
restore the sentence she received from the magistrate court (N100k) but
unfortunately, at the judgement that took place today March 11th, the
court upheld the high court ruling and dismissed Ibinabo's appeal,
saying it lacked merit.
Ibinabo was in court today and reportedly wept when judgment was passed.
She and her lawyers are now heading to the Supreme court to appeal. If
they fail at the Supreme Court, the AGN president will be spending the
next few years in prison.