PAUL ADAMU GALINJE, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellant herein was arraigned before the Lagos State High Court on the 31st January, 2005 charged with murder of one Mohammed Heshimu under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code of Lagos State. In order to prove its case, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered the extra-judicial statement of the appellant, the post mortem report and the picture of the corpse of the deceased which were admitted in evidence and marked Exhibits A, B and C respectively. On the 2nd of April, 2005 Learned Counsel for the Respondent did inform the Court that the Baretta Riffle used by the Appellant on the day of the incident was with a ballistician at C.I.D. Alagbon close for examination and report. Learned Counsel further informed the Court that the ballistic report was not available. At this point, Learned Counsel applied to recall PW1 to tender the rifle at the next date of adjournment.
On the 22nd June, 2006, Learned Counsel for the …