Again, justice denied...

By Dolapo Okunniga

Quite sometime you would say. We never appreciate the good health that God freely gives us until our immune system breaks down. In the past two weeks, I had a dose of the catarrh and fever prevalent during the raining season, but it’s great to be back. I purposely wrote this piece due to a story I read about a famous actress, found guilty of manslaughter, who reportedly was impenitent through out the whole trial and eventually got off with an option of a fine of N100,000 or a jail term of seven years. Yeah, Ibinabo Fiberesima.

Let me refresh you on the gist. Last year, precisely February 26, 2006, Fiberesima was involved in a ghastly road accident along Lekki-Epe expressway with a Lexus Jeep belonging to a popular Nigerian musician, Daniel Wilson and the vehicle of a Senior Doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Suraju Giwa. Unfortunately, the physician lost his life, while the actress escaped with some injuries. There were indications that she was coming from a party, roaring drunk, though she had vehemently denied it and instead blamed the accident on the part of the deceased who is not around to defend himself anyway. The bereaved and understandably enraged family complained about the bail granted Ibinabo and the speed with which she was released after being arrested.

The sad truth is that our justice system still aids the influential. Many drivers are languishing in prison on charges of manslaughter and other traffic offences, even though some were not driving under alcohol influence and the accident was entirely the fault of a careless pedestrian or driver. The punishment given by the court often does not leave out the option of fine. This is the second time this year where a popular actress got off lightly after committing a capital crime.

Remember Hassanat Taiwo Akinwande, popularly known in the Yoruba movie genre as Yetunde Wunmi? She got off lightly with a fine option of N1 million for attempting to cargo over 92 wraps of cocaine across the shores of the country, using her stomach as the vessel. What was painful and understandably so for the bereaved family was the fact that Ibinabo was said to be hardly sober throughout the entire trial. Infact, her non-chalant attitude to her offence fuelled the family’s anger which led them to hold charges against her in the first place. She was also reported to have immediately placed calls to friends, who raised the amount for her immediately after judgment was given by the court. Truly, no amount of compensation could make up for the loss of Suraju, heal the family’s emotional trauma or bring him back from the grave, but if any should be given by the court, it must be one that would either challenge the offender or scare the pants off him.

The judgment was indeed a travety as the family termed it and they are justified to go on appeal. We are speaking of a human life for pity’s sake! Once again, our judiciary must wake up to its responsibility, which is to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done. It is sad and disappointing enough that the faith of the common man in our judicial system is lost. While Suraju’s death remains a mind-numbing shock to both his overseas and Nigerian-based family, even more painful is the fact that the offender was impenitent and the arbiter aided in lessening her punishment. An appeal though right, nevertheless costs money, time and especially emotions but may be a review of the case by a higher court would at least lay Suraju’s soul to rest.