LEGAL PRINCIPLE: EVIDENCE LAW — Corroboration — Conviction Can Be Based on Evidence of Single Credible Witness
PRINCIPLE STATEMENT
Proof beyond reasonable doubt is not attained by the number of witnesses fielded by the prosecution; it depends on the quality of the evidence. The testimony of one credible witness is worth more than a host of unbelievable witnesses.
RATIO DECIDENDI (SOURCE)
Per Onu, JSC, in Nwambe v. The State (1995) NLC-1091994(SC) at p. 22; Paras. A–C.
"Proof beyond reasonable doubt is not attained by the number of witnesses fielded by the prosecution. It depends on the quality of the evidence tendered by the prosecution... The testimony of one witness who is credible and who is believed is worth much more than those of a host of witnesses whom the Court cannot believe."
EXPLANATION / SCOPE
Quality, not quantity, of evidence matters. A single credible witness can support a conviction. The principle applies to all criminal trials. The court must assess credibility. The rule is based on the common law principle that one credible witness is sufficient. The judge must warn himself of the danger of convicting on uncorroborated evidence in certain cases. The principle does not apply where corroboration is required by law. The jury or judge must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt. The rule promotes focus on evidence quality.