Man Freed By Lagos Court Of Appeal After 11 Years On Death Row

A Court of Appeal in Lagos has granted freedom to one Ganiyu Wahab, who had spent 11 years on death row. 

Wahab was arraigned for murder at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja and subsequently sentenced to death on July 2, 2007 after he was accused of killing one Kolawole Lateef Alaran on January 23, 2005 by stabbing him with a broken bottle in the Agboyi area of Lagos.

He was discharged following an appeal against his conviction by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP). The judgement, which was delivered by a panel led by Justice Abimbola Osarugue Obaseki-Adejumo on July 13 set aside his conviction and death sentence and also held that Wahab's conviction was based on the evidence of the only one eyewitness called, adding that the confessional statements of the accused person were erroneous as both evidences contained different facts. 

The court also held that the prosecution failed to prove it's. Case beyond reasonable doubt.