The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has upheld the judgement of a Lagos High Court which sentenced star actress and former beauty Queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima to five years’ imprisonment for the death of one Dr Giwa Suraj.
The court dismissed the appeal filed by the actress challenging the sentence which was handed down by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi for reckless driving which caused the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos.
The deceased was a staff in one of the Lagos state’s hospitals.
In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, the court also dismissed the sentence of a Magistrate Court which had earlier awarded a N100,000 fine on the actress.
The Court said the Magistrate lacked the discretion to grant Ibinabo the option of a fine upon conviction.
Immediately, the judgment was delivered, Ibinabo who was visibly apprehensive throughout the proceeding burst into tears and wept furiously.
The court had earlier ordered that she must appear before it when judgement is to be delivered.
Speaking on the judgement, 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.
