HINDI
V.
THE STATE
·
COKER, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellant was at the Magistrate's Court, Maiduguri, convicted by the Chief Magistrate of an offence under Section 158 of the Penal Code. On his arraignment before the magistrate, a First Information Report (hereinafter referred to as F.I.R.) pursuant to the provisions of Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code was placed before the court. The F.I.R. states as follows:-
"Nature of Information Fabricating false Evidence on 15/3/73 Alhaji Zanna Musa Hindi of Bulabulin Ward Maiduguri fabricates false evidence before Yerwa Civil Court for the purpose of claiming 2 houses and one thousand naira (N1,000) said to belong to late Alhaji Zanna Laisu the late Waziri of Bornu by giving the sum of N40 to Alhaji Umar Shettima in order to bribe the members of the late Zanna Laisu's family to come and give false evidence also he gave the sum of N100 to Alhajiya Shuwa who refused the money. The Area Court decided the case to be in favour of Alhaji…