TVC E. When your past comes knocking with a sledge hammer is the case of Nolly wood Star Ibinabo Fiberesima.
An appeal court sitting in Lagos has adjourned for judgement the appeal filed by star actress and former beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima challenging the judgement of a Lagos High Court which sentenced her to five years imprisonment for causing the death of a Lagos medical doctor, Giwa Suraj.
The embattled actress was sentenced to five years imprisonment for reckless driving which caused the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj in an auto accident along Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos State. The deceased was a staff of one of Lagos state owned hospitals. Fiberesima was fined N100, 000 by an Igbosere Chief Magistrate Mr. O.A. Isaacs but the then Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of justice, Olasupo Sasore (SAN), felt unsatisfied with the judgement and appealed.
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 back to Ibinabo Fiberesima.
Dissatisfied with the judgement of the high court, Fiberesima came before the Court of Appeal and urged the court to set aside the five year sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrate Court. At the hearing of the appeal yesterday, the appellate court presided over by Justice U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu (Mrs.) adjourned for judgement in the appeal after counsel adopted their written addresses. The court also directed that the appellant (Fiberesima) who was not in court should appear in court when judgement is to be delivered, adding that, the date will be communicated to the parties.
