Top actress and former beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima, finally showed up before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of a Lagos High Court on Monday.
The development came just as the judge remanded the top actress in Kirikiri Medium Prison, Lagos, amid tears and wailing from her family members and artistes, pending the court ruling on her application for bail.
The court had on February 20, sentenced Fiberesima to five years imprisonment for manslaughter, following her dangerous and reckless driving that led to the death of Dr Giwa Suraj
Fiberesima had appeared in court with a black top and multicoloured skirt with her new baby girl and cried throughout the proceedings.
But the convict later broke down and wept profusely when the court finally ordered that she be kept in Kirikiri prison till Thursday.
Our correspondent also observed that some of the convict‘s relations and well-wishers including actors and actresses, who came to court in solidarity, wept over the development.
A mild drama had ensued when the convict, who appeared in court for the first time since the beginning of the suit filed by the Lagos State Government, was assisted into the witness box by the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr.Ejike Asiegbu.
But Justice Oluwayemi stopped Asiegbu from leading the convict to the witness box and directed that Fiberesima should be allowed to walk by herself into the witness box.
Some of the actors and actresses that were present in court included Mr. Keppy Ekpenyong, Miss Grace Amah, Iyen Agbonifo, Fred Amata and many others.
Justice Oluwayemi also directed the Medical Director of Kirikiri Medium Prison to attend to her medical needs and ensure that she was given necessary treatment until the next adjourned date.
A new lawyer, Mr Fred Agbaje, had appeared for the convict while Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), the Solicitor-General of Lagos State, represented the state government.
But the judge commended Agbaje for his sagacity in ensuring that the convict appeared in court.
Agbaje had while moving his application on motion on notice dated March 19, withdrew the first prayer seeking an order for stay of execution of the judgment of the court delivered on February 20.
He, however, moved the second prayer of the application, which urged the court to admit the convict to bail pending the final determination of Fiberesima appeal against the judgment.
He argued that that the convict had shown special circumstances on why she should be admitted to bail, saying that the convict was suffering from cerebral malaria, frequent black outs and depression.
He submitted that there were no medical facilities to treat such ailments in the prison and urged the court to look into these special circumstances.
Agbaje further submitted that the convict had three children one of whom is one year old while the others are seven years and 11 years old respectively.
He further submitted that the said children were living with the actress, saying that she solely takes care of them as a single mother.
Agbaje further claimed that the children would be gravely affected if their mother was not granted bail as there would be nobody to take care of them.
He urged the court to admit his client on bail pending the appeal.
In the Lagos State’s counter affidavit, Pedro, said the state did not oppose the bail application but on the condition that she would appear in court.
He added that the state would continue to defend judgments of the court and act as prosecutor and not a persecutor.
He submitted that the state was not opposing the application for bail to avoid unnecessary interlocutory appeal and to ensure that the appeal was pursued diligently.
Justice Oluwayemi later adjourned the case till April 2 for ruling.
She said, ”The integrity of the bench must be respected and the rule of law must be obeyed. I commend the sagacity of her new counsel, Fred Agbaje for upholding the integrity of the court”.
