"The law reports are replete with the notion that a Confessional Statement of an accused person to the
commission of a crime plays a major role in the determination of his guilt." Per NDUKWE-ANYANWU,
J.C.A. (Pp. 24-25, paras. G-A) (...read in context)
3. EVIDENCE - CONFESSIONAL STATEMENT OF AN ACCUSED: Effect of a confessional Statement of an
accused person to the commission of a crime
"The Confessional Statement of the Appellant Exhibit C and C(1) were tendered by the prosecution
without objection. The only objection raised by the Appellant was to the effect that the Investigating
Police Officer was not the one who obtained the Confessional Statements. Confession of an accused
person to the commission of a crime plays a major part in the determination of his guilt and a court of
law is entitled to convict on the confession if it comes to the conclusion that the confession is voluntary.
This is because the confession itself puts an end to the rough and speculative edges of criminal
responsibility In terms of mens rea and actus reus. Okeke Vs. State (2003) 15 NWLR (pt.842) 25 SC" Per
NDUKWE-ANYANWU, J.C.A. (P. 22, paras. D-G) (...read in context)
4. CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE - CONFESSIONAL STATEMENT OF AN ACCUSED PERSON: Whether a
free and voluntary confession of guilt made by an accused person, if it is direct and positive is sufficient
to warrant his conviction
"The law is that a free and voluntary confession of guilt made by an accused person, if it is direct and
positive is sufficient to warrant his conviction without any corroborative evidence as long as the court is
satisfied of the confession. Effiong Vs. State (1998) 8 NWLR (pt. 552) 362 SC, Ihuebeka Vs. State (2000) 4
SC (pt.1) 203, Idowu Vs. State (2000) 7 SC (pt.11) 50, Alarape vs. The State (2001) 14 WRN 1 SC." Per
NDUKWE-ANYANWU, J.C.A. (P. 24, paras. E-G) (...read in context)
5. EVIDENCE - HEARSAY EVIDENCE: When statement made to a witness will be hearsay and inadmissible
"Evidence of a statement made to a witness by a person who is not himself called as a witness may not
be hearsay. It is hearsay and inadmissible when the object of the evidence is to establish the truth of
what is contained in the statement. It is not hearsay and admissible when it is proposed to establish by