M. BELLO, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellants were jointly arraigned with one Lt. K.O. Osumah in the High Court of Mid-Western State (now Bendel State), Benin Judicial Division, before Ighodaro, J. During the trial Lt. Osumah was convicted of armed robbery by the Kwara State Robbery and Firearms Tribunal and was executed. Thereafter the trial of the appellants proceeded and it resulted in their convictions of several offences and sentences to various terms of imprisonment.
The offences were related to four cheques that were stolen from the office of the Administrator-General of the State. They were cheques Nos. 0485, 0470, 0471 and 0473. The cheques were later recovered but after each had been forged and sum of money from the account of the Administrator-General in the Barclays Bank, Benin, had been withdrawn thereunder. The evidence shows that cheques Nos. 0485 for 1200pounds and 0473 for 8500pounds were paid into the accounts of O. Akenzua at the National Bank, …