DON OBIOHA vs. THE REPUBLIC [2018]DLCA4633

Date	2018-07-25
Suit No.	CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.H2/3/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLCA4633

IRENE C. LARBI (MRS) J.A. (PRESIDING)

LAWRENCE L. MENSAH J.A.

A. M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS.) J.A.

LONGINUS CHINEDU FOR THE APPELLANT

NANA AISHA SALIFU ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT

[2018]DLCA4633
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DON OBIOHA <o:p></o:p>(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, CAPE COAST]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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CRIMINAL APPEAL
NO.H2/3/2018&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 25TH JULY, 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>LONGINUS CHINEDU FOR THE
APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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NANA
AISHA SALIFU, ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY, FOR THE RESPONDENT <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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IRENE
C. LARBI (MRS) J.A. (PRESIDING),
LAWRENCE L. MENSAH &nbsp;J.A., A. M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS.) J.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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</div>A. M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS), J.A<o:p></o:p>1. This is an appeal from the judgment of the High
Court, Cape Coast, dated 11th January 2017 wherein the conviction of
the appellant by the Circuit Court, Cape Coast on one count of possessing
Narcotic drugs contrary to Sections 41(1) and 57(1) of Act 64/61 as amended by
Section 2(1) of PNDCL 236/90 was upheld and affirmed by the said High Court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>2. The facts of the case are that on 10th
June 2013 at 2.14pm, a group of unidentified young men on board a Nissan Pickup
vehicle with Registration Number GV 586–A arrested and brought the appellant to
the Komenda Police Station bleeding profusely from multiple injuries on his
body and a deep cut on the head and reported that they spotted him at Aburansah
near Komenda and suspected him to be a criminal.&nbsp; According to the captors who failed to give
their identity to the Police, when they conducted a search on the appellant,
they found a parcel of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp in his bag. The
Police took him to Hospital for treatment and after investigations by the Police,
he was then charged, tried and convicted as aforesaid.&nbsp; He was sentenced to 10 years Imprisonment
with Hard Labour.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>3. Being aggrieved with this outcome at the Circuit
Court, the appellant filed a Petition of Appeal at the High Court, Cape Cost
against his conviction on three grounds, namely:-<o:p></o:p>§&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
That the Circuit Judge
erred in law by not considering the mental state of the convict by sending him
to a mental hospital to ascertain his mental state<o:p></o:p>§&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
That the sentencing of the
convict/appellant is too harsh and excessive and <o:p></o:p>§&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The judgment is against
the weight of evidence.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The High Court, in its appellate capacity, duly
considered the appeal and dismissed same on 11th January 2017.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>