Court upholds actress Ibinabo Fiberesima’s 5-year jail term

A Court of Appeal in Lagos has upheld the judgement of a High Court which sentenced actress and AGN President,  Ibinabo Fiberesima to 5 years in prison for killing a certain Dr Giwa Suraj. The former beauty Queen in 2005 drove recklessly and rammed into the physician's vehicle along the Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos.

After the incident, Fiberesima was awarded a N100, 000 fine by an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court upon conviction but the then Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of justice, Supo Sasore (SAN) was dissatisfied with the judgement and then the case was taken 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 her to five years’ imprisonment for dangerous and reckless driving adding that the option of N100, 000 given to the convict did not serve the purpose of justice in the matter. They also ordered that the N100, 000 should be returned back to Fiberesima.

Fiberesima in her amended appellant brief before the Court of Appeal urged the court to set aside the five-year sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrate Court but the decision was upheld in a ruling yesterday.

The thoroughly distraught thespian burst into tears upon the verdict.

 Reacting to the verdict, her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, said that the judgment would be challenged at the Supreme Court adding that a Notice of Appeal had already been filed.