CHIOMA E. NWOSU-IHEME, J.C.A.: (Delivering The Leading Judgment) The issue in this appeal to my mind is straight forward and simple. It is whether upon the change of his plea by the appellant, at the lower court, from one of not guilty to one of guilty, the provisions of section 218 of the Criminal procedure Act were complied with by the lower court before his conviction and sentence.
The issues raised by the appellant's counsel in his brief at page 3 do not appear to me to comprehend the situation in this appeal. The sole issue raised in the brief of the respondent's counsel at page 3 is more apposite to the issue I have identified above.
The appellant was arraigned at the lower court as an accused on a two count charge of possession of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), and cocaine respectively. His initial reaction to the counts of the charge was one of a plea of not guilty. However, the appellant later, in the course of the proceedings changed his plea to one of guilty. Whereupon the …