Appeal Court reduces IG Wala’s jail term  from seven years jail term to two years

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, reduced the seven years jail term of a Nigerian activist convicted for falsely accusing a public official of corruption.

Delivering judgement in Mr Wala’s appeal on Friday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Muhammed Idris, held that the jail term imposed on the activist being a first time offender, was of maximum sentence.

“We have reviewed the facts of the case and review the arguments of counsel on the issues raised and the conclusion is as follows;

“It can be grasped that the punishment imposed on the appellant was of maximum sentencing, in view of the forgoing specifically section 416(2)(d) of ACJA.

“Being a first offender, I do not think that justice would be served by imposing a maximum sentence on the appellant. The appellant is hereby sentenced as follows;

1. Two years imprisonment for the offence of public incitement under section 114 of the penal code which attracts the sentence of three years or fine or both.

2. 18 months for the offence of criminal defamation of character under section 391 and punishable under section 392 of the penal code, which attracts two years of imprisonment or fine or both.

“This sentencing shall run concurrently,” Mr Idris held meaning Mr Wala will only spend two years in jail.