Star Actress Ibinabo fiberesima Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

The Court of Appeal Lagos Division, has dismissed an appeal filed by star actress and former beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima challenging the judgment of a Lagos High Court, which sentenced her to five years imprisonment for the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj.

Justice Deborah Oluwayemi sentenced the embattled actress to five years imprisonment for reckless driving which caused the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos.

The deceased was a staff of one of Lagos state’s hospitals.
Dissatisfied, Fiberesima in her amended appellant brief filed by her counsel, Nnaemeka Amaechina urged the court to set aside the five-year sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrate Court.

But delivering judgment yesterday, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the Lagos High Court.
In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur the court held that the trial Magistrate Court lacked the discretion to grant Ibinabo option of fine having been convicted.
The Court further held that the appeal lacks merit and thereby dismissed it accordingly.

Other members of the panel were Justice U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu (Mrs.) (presiding) and Justice Tijani Abubakar respectively.

Immediately, the judgment was delivered, Ibinabo who was visibly apprehensive throughout the proceeding burst into tears and wept profusely.

The court had earlier ordered that the appellant, Fiberesima, to appear before it when judgment is to be delivered.

Fiberesima had earlier been awarded a N100, 000 fine by an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, but the then Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of justice, Supo Sasore (SAN), felt unsatisfied with the judgment. This prompted the State Government to take its case to the Lagos High Court.

At the Lagos high court, Justice Oluwayemi set aside the option of fine imposed by the Magistrate’s Court and sentenced Fiberesima to five years imprisonment for dangerous and reckless driving.
In her judgment, Justice Oluwayemi held that the trial Magistrate exercised judicial recklessness when he gave the convict an option of fine.

The court held that the option of N100, 000 given to the convict did not serve the purpose of justice in the matter and subsequently ordered that the N100, 000 should be returned to Ibinabo Fiberesima.

The court added that Section 28 of the Road Traffic Law clearly provides that where a reckless and dangerous driving has caused the death of a person, the accused person shall be guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of seven years.

Speaking on the judgment, her counsel, Amaechina said the judgment would be challenged at the Supreme Court adding that a Notice of Appeal had been filed already.