Lagos-The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, has granted N2 million bail to the embattled ex-President of Nigeria Guild of Actors, NGA, Ibinabo Fiberesima, yesterday, pending the determination of her appeal at the Supreme Court over five years imprisonment slammed on her for manslaughter.
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Her bail application was heard today April 7th.
Ten years ago, the ex-beauty queen was charged to the magistrate court on a two-count charge of unsafe and reckless driving along Epe Expressway, Lagos – which resulted in the death of Dr. Giwa Suraj.
He said it would best serve the interest of justice to release Fiberesima on bail, while the Supreme Court’s decision in her case was being awaited.
Justice Oseji said he exercised discretion with the River-born actress because of her health and her record of never jumping bail.
The appellate court made the decision to release her temporarily in consideration of her breast cancer plight.
Lagos State Government did not oppose the application but urged the court to use its discretion.
She said the nucleus of her appeal was not on whether she was guilty or not, adding the actress did not dispute her conviction but only appealed the sentence.
On Thursday, the appellate court, in a two-one split judgment, held that Ms. Fiberesima had not jumped bail in the past.
“The applicant is already convicted and presumption of innocence is no longer available”, the judge said.
But in a judgment on 11 March, the Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal and upheld the five years imprisonment imposed on her.
The court reasoned that there was enough evidence before it to show that the convict had a health challenge.
The bail was then granted in the sum of two million Naira with two sureties in like sum.
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The justice added that there is a clinic at the prison to cater to Fiberesima’s needs and which could refer her to a hospital outside the prison if need be. She held that no special circumstance exist for the grant of bail.
