Egharevba v Federal Republic of Nigeria and Others (SC223/2010) [2016] NGSC 44 (24 February 2016)


 
 
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria
Holden at Abuja

 

Between

Appellant

EMMANUEL EGHAREVBA 

and

Respondent

1. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA    1ST RESPONDENT
2. PROFESSOR AUSTIN ORASOHAN    1ST ACCUSED/2ND RESPONDENT
3. SUNDAY IDUBOR     3RD ACCUSED/3RD RESPONDENT
4. IFEYINWA NNE'KA OKOLUE    4TH ACCUSED/4TH RESPONDENT

 

JUDGMENT
(DELIVERED BY WALTER SAMUEL NKANU ONNOGHEN, JSC)

This is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal Holden at Benin City in appeal No. CA/B/117/2006 delivered on the 4th day of March. 2010 dismissing the appeal of appellant/2nd accused on a no case submission.
The facts of the case include the following:-
Appellant and three others were charged to the Edo State High Court; Benin City on a 9 count charge to wit-
Statement of Offence 1st Count
Furnishing false statement contrary to Suction 16 of the Corrupt Practices and other Rotated Offences Act 2000.
Particulars of Offence
Prof. Austins Obasohan on or about 15th November 2001 at Benin City being on officer charged with the use of property belonging to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital,

knowingly furnished false statement in respect of the sum of N1.150,000.00 purportedly expended for media coverage of the Minister of Health's official visit..

Statement of Offence 2nd Count
Abetment contrary to Section 26(1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

Particulars of Offence
Emmanuel Egharevba around November. 2001 a Benin City did abet the furnishing of false statement by issuing a letter and receipt to Prof. Austine Obasehan in respect of the sum of N1,150,000.00 purportedly expended for media coverage of Minister of Health's official visit....

Statement of Offence 3rd Count
Furnishing false statement contrary to Section 16…..

Particulars of Offence
Sunday Idubor on or about 30th May. 2002 at Benin City being an officer charged with the use of the University of Benin Touching Hospital funds did knowingly furnish a false statement in a precious Palm Royal Hotel Ltd. Receipt for the sum of N 321,790.00 as amount purportedly spent on Hotel accommodation for the entourage of the Minister of Health who was on a visit to Benin City..

Statement of Offence 4th Count
Furnishing false statement contrary Section 16...

Particulars of Offence
Professor Austine Obasohan end Sunday Idubor sometime in November 2001 at Benin

City being officers charged with the use of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital funds knowingly furnished false return in respect of the sum of N28.210.000.00 (Twenty-Eight Thousand. Two Hundred and Ten Naira) purportedly spent by Prof. Obasohan as out-of-pocket expenses and other expenses during the visit of the Minister of Health to Benin City on 16th November. 2011.

Statement of Offence 5th Count
Furnishing false statement contrary to Section 16....

Particulars of Offence
Professor Austmc Obasohan sometime in November. 2001 at Benin City being an officer charged with the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital funds knowingly made false statement in an application for the sum of One million as additional expenses purportedly meant for the visit of the Minister of Health to Benin City.

Statement of Offence 6th Count
Conspiracy to commit an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) and punishable under Section 16 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2001.

Particulars of Offence
Professor Austine Obasohan, Emmanuel Egharevba, Sunday Idubor. ffoyinwa Nneka Okolue. on or about May. 2002 at Benin City being officers charged with the use of funds of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital eonspiicd among themselves to furnish a false statement in respect of the sum of N1,966,950.00 advanced to them to cover the visit of the Minister of Health to Benin City...

Statement of Offence 7th Count
Furnishing false statement contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act. 2000.

Particulars of Offence
Professor Austine Obasohan. Emmanuel Egharevba.. Sunday Idubor and Ifeyitnwa Nneka Okoiue on or about May. 2002 at Benin City being office/s charged with the use of funds of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital knowingly furnished a false statement retiring the sum of N1,966,950.00 purportedly spent by them to cover the visit...

Statement of Offence 8th Count
Conspiracy to commit an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) and punishable under Section 16 Corrupt Practices Act. 2000.

Particulars of Offence

Prof. Austine Obasohan and Ifeyinwa Nneka Okoiue on or about April. 2002 at Benin City being office's charged with the use of University of Benin Teaching Hospital funds knowingly conspired with each other to furnish false statement in respect of the sum of N300,000.00 purportedly spent by them for the purchase of gift items during the visit of the Minister of Health to Benin City on 16th November. 2001.

Statement of Offence 9th Count
Furnishing false statement contrary to and punishable under Section 16

Particulars of offence
Ifeyinwa Nneka Okoiue on or about. April. 2002 a: Benin City being an officer charged with the use of University of Benin Teaching Hospital funds knowingly furnished false statement in respect of the sum of N300,000.00 purportedly spent by her for purchase of gift items during the visit of the Minister of Health to Benin City on 16th November 2001."
The 1st appellant was the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) at the time of the visit of the then Minister of Health. Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu to Benin City to attend the wedding ceremony of the daughter of Chief Tony Anenih on the 16th day of November, 2007. The sum of two million naira was approved, disbursed and retired as expenditure during the visit though only the sum. of N34,050.00 was given to the supervisor of the UBTH Guest House where the Minister and his entourage spent the night.
Subsequently, a petition dated 2th April 7002 and titled "carnival of Frauds in University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Benin City' was addressed to the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission OCPC). by the Chairman Senior Staff Association. Chairman and Secretary of Medical and Health Workers Union of .Nigeria in UBTH. As a result of the above, a team of investigators were dispanned by JCPC to UBTH to investigate me a Negations in me petition. The result of their [investigations confirmed that the claim in the retirement paper dated 30th May. 2002 relating to the approved amount in respect of the said visit were false resulting in the arrest and prosecution of the 2nd appellant who is a media practitioner; 3rd respondent, the then Director of Administration of UBTH and 4th appellant, the Senior Public Relations Officer of UBTH along with 1st appellant under the nine count charge earner reproduced in this judgment.
The prosecution called ten witnesses including the then Minister of Health. Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu who testified as PW6. At the conclusion Gt the case for prosecution, appellants made a no-case submission which was overruled by the trial Judge in a ruling delivered on the 27li: day of January. 2006.
The said learned trial Judge held.
1. that 1st accused had a case to answer in each of counts 1.4.5. 6. 7 and 8 as charged and was accordingly invited to enter his defence thereto.
2.    that 2nd accused had a case to answer in each of counts 2 and 6 but not in count 7. a no was invited to enter his defence in res sect of counts 2 and 5. The 2nd accused was then discharged in respect of count 7 under section 266 of the Criminal Procedure Act and the count dismissed
3.    that the 3rd accused had a case to answer in respect of each of counts 3. 4, 6 and 7 as charged and was invited to enter his defence thereto.
4.    that the 4th accused had a case to answer in respect of each of counts 6, 7, 8 and 9 as charged and was invited to enter his defence thereto.
All the four accused persons were dissatisfied with the said ruling and consequently appealed against same individually.
The issues submitted by learned Senior Counsel for 1st appellant, J.O. AGHIMIEIV SAN are as follows:-
(a) Whether the essential ingredients of the offences charged in counts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the charge have been proved by the prosecution, warranting the 1st accused/appellant to be called upon to enter his defence on any of the counts.
(b) Whether the evidence led by the Prosecution in support of counts 1. 6 and 7 are net at variance with the offences charged in (he said counts and to that extent not proved.
(c)    Whether the learned Judge property directed himself in law when he held that he eminently entitled to take judicial notice or more than the duties and responsibilities of the 1st accused/appellant include the keeping and management of the Hospitals funds." On the ground that the bulk of the duties of his subordinates from various departments of the rest at his desk.
(d)    Whether the essential ingredients of the offence in count 4 have been established or proved requiring the 1st accused/appellant to enter a defence, when there is no evidence on the printed record to show the falsity of the returns statement of out of pocket expenses of the sum of N28..000.00.
(e)    Whether the learned trial Judge in delivering a Ruling on No-case submission can, properly go into the merits of the main case (with particular reference to the proposed defence of the 1st accused person).
(f) Whether the petitions (Exhibits P1 and P33) which constitute the bases of the charge against the 1st accused person are legally admissible evidence on which the count could act when none of the signatories to the said petitions was called to testify on the contents.
(g) Whether the entire Ruling by the learned trial Judge delivered en the 27!1, day of January, 2006 at the High Court, Benin City without warrant from the Chief Judge to continue the case after his posting to the High Court Ublaja, is not a nullity.”
The issues submitted by N.P. OSIFO; ESC, of Counsel for 2nd accused/appellant are three, and they are:
"1. Whether there was complaint against the 2nd accused/appellant in the first place to warrant his being arraigned before the lower court on the information filed by the1st respondent?
2 if the answer to 1 above is in the positive, whether having regards to the evidence presented in court by the prosecution, the learned trial Judge rightly overruled the No-ease submission made on behalf of the 2nd accused/appellant.
3. Whether the learned trial Judge was night in approbating and reprobating at the same time. '
For the 3rd accused/appellant, the issues submitted. for determination by his Counsel.

T.E. OGBEIDE - I HAM A ESQ as follows:
"1. Whether the essential ingredients of the offence charged in counts 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the charge were proved by the prosecution warranting the 3rd accused/appellant to be called upon to outer his defence.
2.    Whether the learned trial Judge did not misdirect him so If in law when he allowed the prosecution to allege without proof and whether the trial Judge did not go beyond the scope of his mandate in the Ruling on No-case submission by delving into the met it of the entire case.
3.    Whether the learned trial Judge did not misdirect himself when he overruled the No-case submission made on behalf of the 3rd accused/appellant when lie called on the 3"" accused/appellant to present his case especially on the circumstances surrounding the issuance of Exhibit P.3 and how it was spent
Finally on behalf of the 4th accused/appellant IDEMUDJA ILUEMI-NOSEN ESQ submitted the following issues for determination -
1.    Whether there was complaint ago in the 4th accused/appellant in the first instance to warrant her being arraigned before the lower court on the information filed by the fi: respondent.
2.    Whether the essential ingredients of the offences charged in counts 6. 7. 8 and 9 of the charge were proved by (he prosecution to warrant the 4th accused/appellant being called upon to enter hot-do fence.
3.    Whether the learned trial Judge did net misdirect himself when he wont beyond the scope- of his mandate in his ruling on the No-case submission by delving into the merits of the entire case.
4.    Whether the entire ruling by the learned trial Judge delivered on the 27th day of January. 2006 at the High Court. Benin City., without warrant from the Chief Judge to continue with the case having been transferred to High Court.. Ubiaja. is not a nullity."
I have had to go through all the issues submitted for determination before the lower court so as to appreciate the complaint of appellant who was 2nd appellant in the lower court and is complaint of lack of fair hearing of the lower court in respect of his appeal.
The instant appeal is against the decision of the lower court in the appeals of the accused/appellants including accused/appellant.
Learned Counsel for appellant. N.P. OSIFO ESQ submitted a single issue for the determination of the appeal in the appellant brief of argument filed on 27/7/2010. to wit:
"Whether the non consideration of the appeal of the 2nd accused/appellant by the court below did not amount to denial of fair hearing guaranteed under section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 1999: thereby rendering the judgment of the Court of Appeal a complete-nullity.
On the other hand learned Counsel for the for respondent submitted the following issue for determination to wit:-
Whether or not the appellant was denied fair hearing by the Court of Appeal in fight of the circumstances of the case (gleaned from the single ground of appeal."
In arguing the sole issue supra, learned Counsel for appellant stated that the lower court failed to consider any of the three issues submitted to it by appellant thereby breaching the right to fair hearing of appellant under the provisions of section 3G of the Constitution of the federal Repute of Nigeria 1999, as amended, relying on the State vs Onugoruwa (1920) (9­10) S.C 329; Amadi vs Thomas Aplin & Co J.td (19S2; 4 S.C 228- that the non-consideration of the substance of appellant s appeal, before the lower court resulted in a miscarriage of justice, relying on Ugbodume vs Abiegbe 11991} 8 NWLR (pt. 209) 274. Learned Counsel then urged the court to invoke its powers under section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to determine the issues as raised before the lower court and urged the court to resolve the issue in favour of appellant and allow the appeal.

It is the submission of learned Counsel for 1st respondent that the lower court gave equal opportunity to all the parties who were also heard on the merit of the case; that what was on appeal was the ruling of the trial court which overruled the no-case submission made by appellants and that the lower court rightly found that the said ruling went beyond issues of law and delved into facts and merits of the case and consequently declared same a nullity.

It is further submission of Counsel that having set aside the ruling of the trial court, the proper order was that de novo before another Judge as was orders by the lower court; that having ruled that the ruling of the trial judge was a nullity the court could not have gone any further to consider any other issue which might lead to the court contradicting itself.
Finally, learned Counsel urged the court to resolve the issue against appellant and dismiss the appeal.
It should be noted that though the appellants before the lower court appealed individually and raised separate issues, the appeals and issues arising therefrom, as earlier reproduced in this judgment, arose from the ruling of the trial court on a no-case submission made by Counsel for the appellants before that court. There is no individual ruling in respect of each and every accused person Secondly it has to be pointed out that from the issues raised before the lower court for determination in the judgment now on appeal before us, the main complaint is that the trial court went beyond the normal ruling on a no-case submission to consider the merits of the substantive case, which appellants were yet to offer their defence. At page 331 – 352 of the record, the lower court had the following to say inter alia:
I have no doubt that a reasonable that reasonable man reading the language used, and the analysis of the law and facts therein will come away with the district impression that the lower court believed the Appellants were truly guilty of the offences charged which should not be so. At that stage where a no case submission is made what is to be considered by the court is not whether the evidence produced by the prosecution against the accused is sufficient to justify conviction but whether the prosecution has made out a prima facie (case) requiring; at least, some explanation from the accused person as regards his conduct or othenvisc - see Tongo vs CO. P. (2007) 12 NWLR (pt. 1049) 525 at 544 SC.
In other words, at the stage of a No-case submission when the trial of the case is not yet concluded, me court is not expected to be concerned with credibility of witnesses or weight of evidence ………………….

No doubt, the lower court was most unfair to the appellants, and the appeal wilt have to be resolved in their favour    
The appellants cannot be discharged and acquitted because the matter had not been decided on its merit; they had not been heard    
The only option open to this Court, which is sanctioned by the Supreme Court, is to remit the matter back (sic) to the lower court for trial before another Judge - see Kim vs State (1992) 4 NWLR (pt. 233) 17. S.C……"    "
Finally at page 333 of the record, the Court concluded thus:
The appeal succeeds and it is allowed. The ruling of the lower court delivered on the 27th of January, 2006 is set aside, and I hereby order a new trial of the appellants before another Judge."
It should be noted that there is no appeal or cross appeal against the judgment reproduced, inter alia, supra. It therefore remains subsisting and binding. The judgment in issue showed the appeals of the appellants but ordered a trial de novo before another judge. Ye; appellant herein is complaining of breach of his right to fa-r hearing in that the three issues he-brought to the lower court were not allegedly considered by that court in the judgment on appeal.
I am of the firm view that appellant is not correct in his assertion having regard to the judgment of the lower court in relation to his issue 2 which postulates thus:-
"2. If the answer to issue 1 above is in the positive, whether having regards to the evidence presented in court by the prosecution, the learned trial judge rightly overruled the no-case submissions made on behalf of the 2nd Accused/Appellant.?:
Clearly the above issue is one of those considered by the lower court before coming to the conclusion that the trial court, in an attempt at ruling on the no-case submission, went into the merits of the case without first of all hearing the appellants on their defence and as such declared the said ruling a nullity and set same aside. In the circumstance, I do not agree with counsel for appellant that the case o: appellant was not considered by the lower court before reaching the decision in question.
Secondy learned Counsel for appellant has not demonstrated how the decision of the lower court in the judgment on appeal has resulted in a miscarriage of justice as alleged by him. On the contrary, whereas the trial Judge had, in a ruling on a no-case submission virtually concluded that appellants were culpable without even hearing their defence which the lower court held constitutes a breach of appellants' right to fair hearing, the lower court gave appellants the opportunity to be heard before another judge in a de novo trial of the charge.   How does that constitute a miscarriage of justice?

Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 1999. as amended allegedly breached by the lower court provides:
"in the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure Its independence and impartiality.'
In the present case since all the appeals of the appellants before the lower court had the same substratum, appellant was duly heard by the court as earlier demonstrated in this judgment.
Learned Counsel for appellant has invited this Court to invoke its powers under the provisions of section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to hear and determine the appeal of the 2Mi appellant before the power court. I had in effect, held that having regard to the fact that the main issue in the appeal of appellant and which was also common to the other appeals, was determined by the lower court which issue is substantia: enough to dispose, and did dispose of the appeals, the invitation of learned Counsel for appellant is in the circumstance misconceived and is accordingly declined.
Still on the invocation of the provisions of Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act. I have to point out. that learned Counsel has not argued before us the three issues he presented to the lower court for determination and which he alleged were not considered or resolved resuming in the alleged breach of the right of appellant to fair hearing. Having not done that, one wonders how Counsel wants the Court to decide the issues without argument of both Counsel thereon. Does Counsel want the court to argue and decide the issues tor him? If so. will that satisfy the rules of fair hearing?
I had earlier found that there is no appeal against the decision of the lower court setting aside the ruling of the trial Judge on the no-case submission which means there is no subsisting ruling to ground the grounds of appeal from which the three issues or appellant were formulated. This means clearly that the issues in question died with the ruling attacked in that appeal.
In any event, it is settled law that evaluation of evidence and ascription of weight thereto remains the province of the trial court which heard and observed the demeanor of the witnesses and is consequently in a better position to form an opinion as to the credibility of the said witnesses. This Court, like the lower court is not the trial court and is consequently very much unsuitable for the task which learned Counsel for appellant seeks it to perform.
In the circumstance, I hold that this is the most worthless appeal. I have ever been called upon to consider as same is time wasting and frivolous. It has no benefit whatsoever to appellant. It is accordingly dismissed by me.
Appeal dismissed.

NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA, JSC:     I read in draft the lead judgment delivered by my learned brother, Onnoghcn, JSC and I entirely agree with the reasoning and conclusion that the appeal is devoid of merit and ought to be dismissed.
The denial of fair hearing resulting in a miscarriage of justice complained of before us occurred in the trial Court when it went beyond the no-case submission to delve into the facts, and ipso facto, the merit of the case. In dealing with a no-case submission, the issue of the Court believing or disbelieving the evidence or the credibility of the witness could not arise and so the facts that will lead to the merit vel non of the ease are not in issue. See R v. Coker 20 NLR 62; Ajiboye v. The Stae (1995) E NWLR (Pt. 414) 408 at 444.
In its judgment, the Court below rightly in mv view, nullified the trial by another Judge to give the appellant the opportunity of being heard before a decision is taken in his case, thus correcting the error of the trial Court.
For the above and the comprehensive reasoning in the lead judgment, I also dismiss the appeal for want of merit.
Appeal dismissed.

MARY UKAEGO PETER-ODILI, JSC:   I agree with the Judgment just delivered by my learned brother W. S. N. Onnoghen, JSC and in support of the reasonings, I shall make some remarks.
This is an appeal by the 2nd Accused/Appellant against the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division which dismissed the Appeal of the Appellant on his no case submission. The Appellant was dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court for which he appealed to the Court of Appeal or Court below for short which in turn sent back to the Court of first instance for trial before another Judge. The Appellant aggrieved has come before this court on ground of a denial of fair hearing by the Court below,
The background facts of this appeal are well set out in the lead judgment and i shall not go into them.
On the 10th of December 2015 date of hearing, there was a letter from learned counsel for the Appellant, N.P. Osifo for an adjournment. The Court proceeded by adopting his Brief of argument filed on 27/7/2005 as argued. Therein was raised a sole issue for determination being;-
Whether the none consideration of the appeal of the 2nd accused/appellant by the Court below did not amount to denial of fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, thereby rendering the Judgment of the Court of Appeal a complete nullity?
Paul Ahmed Bassi Esq., learned counsel for the l5t Respondent adopted his Brief of Argument fifed on the 26/11/2012 and deemed filed on the 29/11/12. He also identified a single issue for determination thus:-
Whether or not the Appellant was denied fair hearing by the Court of Appeal in light of the
circumstances of the case. Learned counsel for the 2nd Respondent, Mr. Erhabor, Mr. Anga for the 3rd Respondent and Mr. Ovrawah for the 4th Respondent each withdrew their respective briefs of argument and the Court accordingly struck them out.
The respective issue couched on either side posed the same question and so finding that of the 1st Respondent simpler, I shall utilise it in the determination of the appeal.

SOLE ISSUE:
Whether or not the Appellant was denied fair hearing by the Court of Appeal in the light of the circumstances of the case?
Mr. Osifo of counsel for the Appellant contended that the entire judgment of the Court below did not consider the appeal of the appellant and so a breach of fair hearing ensued and so the decision of the Lower court was a nullity. He referred to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution; State v Onagoruwa (1992) 2 NWLR (Pt.221) page 33 at 56 & 58; Deduna v Okorodudu (1976) 9 10 SC 329; Amadi v Thomas Aolin & Co. Ltd (1992) 4SC 228.
That the Court below was wrong in not considering the substance of the appeal as it was duty bound to pronounce on the issues raised in the appeal of the appellant. He cited Ugbodume v

Abiegbe (1991) 8 NWLR (Pt. 209) 274; Ukatta V Ndinaeze (1997) 4 NWLR (Pt, 499) 251 at 268.
Learned counsel further stated that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to deal with an issue raised but not dealt with in the Court of Appeal. He relied on Eimskip Ltd v Exquisite Ind. Ltd (2003) 4 NWLR (Pt. 809) 88 at 121.
Mr. Bassi of counsel for the 1st Respondent contended that what the Court of Appeal did was right having found that the trial judge went beyond his scope in overturning the no case submission raised before him by the accused/appellant. That even though the general principle of law is that a Court has a duty to consider and make a pronouncement on the issues that arise or were raised and submitted by parties but the principle is not inflexible in all situations as in this instance since the issue of the validity of the ruling of the trial High Court subsumes all other issues, the Court below could do nothing else and the issue of denial of fair hearing did not arise. He cited Ojoh v Kamalu (2006) All FWLR (Pt. 297) 978; Wilson v Oshin (2000) 9 NWLR (Pt.673) 442; Cookey v Fombo (2005) 5 SC (Pt.II) 102 at 111; Balogun v Labiran (1998) 3 NWLR (Pt.80) 66 at 80.
In brief the grouse of the Appellant is captured by the submission of the Appellant that the Court of Appeal had failed to consider the issues before it which thereby occasioned a denial of fair hearing to the appellant in contravention of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Section 36 precisely. The Respondent countered saying the circumstances being a ruling over whether or not the no case submission of the Appellant at the trial Court was rightly overruled and so all the Court of Appeal and even the trial Court on seeing that the no case submission of the appellant failed was just to state that failure and say no more so as not to run the risk of prejudging the merits of the case which full hearing was yet to be undertaken, a situation that would have been prejudicial.
The main thrust of this appeal is resting at page 332, part of the judgment of the Court below where Augie JCA stated:­
"In this case, ,the Lower Court's Ruling of 32 pages on No-Case Submissions, which he over-ruled, was much too lengthy, and thus, as you might expect, made it easy right to cross the line between the law which the Court had every right to look into, and discussing facts to match the law, which it had no right at ail to do".
The Court of Appeal thereafter ordered the case remitted to the High Court for trial on the merits before another Judge and did not go further than that hence the disagreement of the Appellant that the issues he had raised had been left unattended by that Court and so his right to be heard had been infringed upon. On that note, I would state straight away that it is a general principle of law that a Court has a duty to consider and make a pronouncement on the issues that arise, were raised and canvassed upon by parties for determination. That general position is not an untouchable one or a principle without exception as the Court would desist in tackling all issues where the effect would negate the adjudicatory process or prejudice it or compromise the justice of the matter. In this exception would rest an unsuccessful no-case submission which still has a long way to go as the defence has not commenced and making further comments beyond stating as briefly as possible that the No Case submission was over-ruled and the accused to enter into his defence.  The Court says no more until the defence with or without witnesses have had their say and concluded and the role of the Court to make further comments would be at its judgmen. See Ojoh v Kamaiu (2006) All FWLR (Pt.297) 978; Wilson v Oshin (2000) 9 NWLR (673) 442; Cookey v Fombo (2005) 5 SC (Pt.II) 102 at 111; Balogun v Labiran (1998) 3 NWLR (Pt.80) 66 at 80.
In this case at hand where the trial Court finding against the no-case submission having gone into the marathon Ruling in saying so, thereby entering effectively into and even deciding the merits of a case, which full course was yet to run, the only right and fair path for the Court of Appeal to do was to do exactly as the Court below did by sending the matter back to the High Court of Edo State for hearing before another judge, In doing that, the Court of Appeal was fair on ah parties and took into consideration the interest of justice.
In conclusion therefore, there being nothing upon which the Court of Appeal's decision could be faulted and in the light of the better reasoning of the lead judgment, I too dismiss the appeal as I abide by the consequential orders made.

OLU ARIWOOLA, JSC:   I had the privilege of reading in draft the lead judgment of my learned brother, Onnoghen, JSC just delivered. I entirely agree with the reaso

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