By Olugbenga Soyele
Temporary reprieve came the way of Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima as the Lagos Division of Court of Appeal granted her a post trial bail pending the determination of her appeal at the Supreme Court against a five-year-imprisonment slammed on her by a Lagos State High Court for manslaughter.
The appellate court, presided over by Justice Sidi Bage granted the convict bail in the sum of two million naira with two sureties in the like sum.
However, the three-man panel of Justice were not all in agreement with the verdict, as one of them, Justice Justice Y B Nimba held that no special circumstance exists for the court to grant the ex-beauty queen bail.
It will be recalled that the embattled actress was sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos High Court for reckless driving which caused the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos.
Dissatisfied, Fiberesima in her amended appellant brief filed by her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina urged the court to set aside the five-year sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrate Court, which had earlier imposed a N100,000 fine on her for the offence.
But, the appellate court in its judgement delivered on February 11 dismissed Ibinabo’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the lower court.
A development that made the embattled Nollyhood actress approach the Supreme Court seeking the nullification of the jail term imposed on her.
Fiberesima also filed an application before the Court of Appeal, urging the court to release her on bail pending when the Supreme Court would hear and determine her appeal.
The Lagos State government did not oppose the application but urged the court to use its discretion.
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