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BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON PROSECUTION TO ESTABLISH MURDER

Dictum

It is however settled law that it is the duty of the prosecution to establish or prove the charge/case against an accused person. In other words, it is the prosecution that bears the burden of proving the guilt of the accused person. For the court to come to the conclusion that the prosecution has discharged the burden placed on it by law, it must be satisfied that the conclusion is beyond reasonable doubt as it is settled law that any doubt existing in such a case must be resolved in favour of the accused person. In other words, the standard of proof in criminal trials is that of prove beyond reasonable doubt.

— Onnoghen, JSC. Njoku v. The State (2012)

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GENERALLY IN LAND CASES, THE ONUS OF PROOF LIES ON THE PLAINTIFF

The onus or burden of proof is merely an onus to prove or establish an issue. There cannot be a burden of proof where there are no issues in dispute between the parties, and to discover where the burden lies in any given case, the court has bounden duty to critically look at the pleadings. The general rule is that, it is the plaintiff who seeks a decree of declaration of title that has the onus of proof: Onobruchere v. Esegine (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt. 19) 799; Kwamina Kuma v. Kofi Kuma (1936) 5 WACA 4; Kodilinye v. Mbanefo Odu (1935) 2 WACA 336 at 337; Ayitey Cobblah v. Tettey Gbeke (1947) 12 WACA 294 at 295; Anachuma Nwakaf or and Ors Nwankwo Udegbe and Ors (1963) 1 All NLR 107; Nwankwo Udegbe and Ors v. Anachuma Nwokafor and Ors (P.C) (1963) 1 All NLR 417; Mogaji and Ors v. Odofin and Anor (1978) 4 SC 91; Bello v. Eweka (198 1) 1 SC 101 at 117-120. The norm in civil cases is that the plaintiff starts the process of testimony first and his witnesses if any, thereafter, the defendant proffers his evidence in defence.

— M. Peter-Odili JSC. Nnaemeka Okoye & Ors. v. Ogugua Nwankwo (SC. 234/2004, 27 Jun 2014)

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FACT UNDISPUTED NEED NO FURTHER PROOF

It is trite that facts not disputed are taken as established and therefore need no further proof. The court can legitimately act on such undisputed fact. – Eko JSC. Chemiron v. Stabilini (2018)

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WHERE ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY PROSECUTION BURDEN BECOMES LIGHT

OMOJU v. FRN (2008) LPELR – 2647 (SC), Tobi JSC (of blessed memory), considered the effect of an accused person’s plea of guilt on the burden placed on the prosecution where my noble Lord held thus: “The law is elementary that if an accused person pleads guilty, the burden of proof placed on the prosecution becomes light, like a feather of an ostrich. It no longer remains the superlative and compelling burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. After all, the guilty plea has considerably shortened the distance and brought in some proximity the offence and mens rea or actus reus of the accused as the case may be. That makes it easier to locate causation or causa sine qua non.”

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HE WHO ALLEGES MUST PROVE

✓ Para. 25: In Petrostar (Nigeria) Limited V. Blackberry Nigeria Limited & 1 or (2011) CCJELR, the Court in its consideration reiterated the cardinal principle of law that “he who alleges must prove”.

✓ Para. 27: In Front for Liberation of the State Of Cabinda V. Republic Of Angola 5th November 2013, ACHPR, 328/06, 54TH Ordinary Session, where the Plaintiffs brought the application on behalf of the People of Cabinda on alleged violations of Articles 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24 of the African Charter, by infringing on their rights to natural resources, authorizing exploitation activities that did not favor the development of the people of Cabinda and allowing companies to operate in manners that are harmful to the environment and human health. The Commission held that the complainant failed to adduce evidence to support that the people of Cabinda were treated unequally in comparison to other people in Angola in violation of Article 19 of the Charter.

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THREE WAYS OF PROVING CRIMINAL OFFENCES

The law recognises three ways of proving criminal offences namely:- (a) Through confessional statement of the accused person; or (b) By direct eye witness account of the commission of the offence charged, or (c) through circumstantial evidence. See Akpan v State (2009) 39 WRN 27; (2008)14 NWLR (pt.1106)72; Bassey v State (2012) 12 NWLR (pt.1314)209; Haruna v AG Fed (2012)9 NWLR (pt.1306)419.

— A. Sanusi, JSC. Bassey v State (2019) – SC.900/2016

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