LEGAL PRINCIPLE: EVIDENCE LAW — Confessional Statements — Conviction on Retracted Confession — Free and Voluntary Confession Sufficient
PRINCIPLE STATEMENT
A confessional statement made voluntarily by an accused person, even if subsequently retracted, is sufficient to sustain a conviction.
RATIO DECIDENDI (SOURCE)
Per Edozie, JSC, in Solola & Anor v. State (2005) NLC-2682003(SC) at p. 13; Paras A–B.
"A confessional statement if made voluntarily by an accused person even if subsequently retracted is sufficient to sustain a conviction."
EXPLANATION / SCOPE
Voluntary confession suffices for conviction despite retraction. Retraction does not destroy its evidentiary value. The principle applies to criminal evidence.