Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The recent Supreme Court decision involving a senior advocate of Nigeria suggests that there is a need for the criminal justice administration to provide remedy for convicts who are vindicated at the apex court, having suffered damages and deprivations of liberty. However, the law is clear that it is dependent upon the discretion of the court of appeal to determine if it will be proper to grant such application. The presumption of innocence is still in favour of the person, but where the person has been convicted, the issue of presumption of innocence no longer exists. Therefore, the convict has a duty to come by way of an application seeking for bail pending the hearing of their appeal. The Supreme Court can also grant such bails. The strength of the party's application is dependent on the strength of their application, but it is not automatic. To go to the Court of Appeal, a notice of appeal must be filed, which can be done the same day the conviction is made or the following day. A good lawyer should be able to foresee possible outcomes of the case and prepare ahead, and can record the judgment and file the notice of appeal as quick as possible, even if it doesn't contain all grounds. There are different dimensions of appeal, such as using one notice of appeal for the purposes of the appeal or filing additional grounds.