YAW APPAU, J.A.
Though I did not have the opportunity to read beforehand the elaborate and well elucidated lead judgment of my learned senior colleague Piesare, J.A., I agree with him in all respects that the appeal before us has all the merits in the world for which the convictions and sentences of the appellants must be quashed without any hesitation whatsoever. I also appreciate the wisdom he exhibited in the said judgment. I do not wish to add anything substantial to what my learned senior colleague has already said, though I would like to express an opinion on the trial court’s decision to invite the appellants to open their defence and their consequent conviction, which I think was erroneous. I would, however, not wade too much into the waters of our criminal jurisprudence as my good friend and brother Dr. Ayine who represents the 1st appellant brilliantly did, though not surprising, he being within the four walls of academia or the intellectual terrain.
In my humble and honest …