Headnote and Holding:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

ON FRIDAY, THE 30TH DAY OF MARCH 2007

SC 271/2005

BETWEEN

ABEKE .......................................................... APPELLANT

AND

THE STATE ............................................................ DEFENDANT

 

BEFORE: Idris Legbo Kutigi Cjn; Niki Tobi; George Adesola Oguntade; Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, Jjsc

 

ISSUES

 

Whether the appellant was guilty of an offence under section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act No. 44 of 1977 by obtaining credit of N3,300 from one Ganiyu Ajayi by means of a cheque drawn in his favour and dishonoured on grounds that the appellant had insufficient funds in her account to cover the face value of the cheque.

 

FACTS

 

On 4 September 1981 Ajayi loaned the appellant N2,000 to enable her to execute a contract awarded to her by the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture. A week later Ajayi loaned a further amount of N1,300 to the appellant, but requested that the transaction be documented. On 29 September 1981, the appellant gave Ajayi a post-dated cheque for N3,300 covering both loans. The appellant produced her cheque book, and being illiterate, asked Ajayi to write out the cheque evidencing the loan grant, which he did. The appellant then signed and rubber-stamped the cheque. Ajayi paid the cheque into his account on 29 September 1981 but it was returned unpaid. Despite numerous demands by Ajayi, the appellant failed or refused to pay him the amount of N3,300, and finally, in 1989, brought an action against the appellant. The appellant denied issuing the cheque for N3,300 to Ajayi. She admitted receiving a loan from him for N1,500, of which she claimed to have repaid N500. She claimed further that she had lost her cheque book in 1981. The appellant was found guilty of offence under the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. She appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court dismissed her appeal. She appealed further to the Supreme Court.

 

HELD

 

Leading judgment by George Adesola Oguntade, JSC with I.L. Kutigi CJN, N. Tobi, A.M. Mukhtar and W.S.N.Onnoghen, JJSC concurring

 

1.      Cheque not merely a documentation of loan transaction

There was no merit in the appellant's claim that the dishonoured cheque should not be viewed as a medium of payment but merely as documentation of the loan transaction. Per Oguntade, JSC at 3.

 

2.      A cheque is a medium of payment

The issuance of a cheque serves to document a particular transaction and to be a medium of payment with far-reaching implications in law. Per Oguntade, JSC at 3.

 

3.      Appellant's defence of not issuing a cheque merely fanciful

The appellant's defence that she had not issued the cheque was utterly fanciful and should be rejected. Per Oguntade JSC at 3.

 

4.      Offence of issuing a dishonoured cheque committed

The appellant had committed an offence under section 1(2)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act in that she had issued a cheque in settlement of an obligation arising under an enforceable contract, which cheque was dishonoured by non-payment when presented after due date. Per Oguntade, JSC at 3.

 

Oladipo Okpeseyi, Esq. for the appellant with him is Emeka Okpala Esq.

 

Y. Oresanya (Mrs) for the respondent

 

The following cases were referred to in this judgment:

 

Nigeria

 

Abayonu Adelenwa v The State (1972) 10 SC 13

Alabi v State (1993) 7 NWLR (Part 307) 511

Aseimo v Abraham 16 NWLR (Part 738) 20

Boshali v Allied Commercial Exporters Ltd (1961) 2 SCNLR 322

Chindo Worldwide Ltd v Total (Nigeria) Plc (2000) 16 NWLR (Part 739) 291

Chinwendu v Mbamali (1980) 3-4 SC 31

Chukwu v D. Ala (1999) 6 NWLR (Part 608) 674

Aina v M.A. Jinadu & another (1992) 4 NWLR (Part 233) 91

Egboghonome v The State (1993) 7 NWLR (Part 306) 383

Ferguson v Commissioner for Works & Housing Lagos State (1999) 4 NWLR (Part 638) 315

Ibodo v Enarofia (1980) 5-7 SC 42

MIA & Sons Ltd v FHA (1991) 8 NWLR (Part 209) 295

Mohammed v State (1991) 5 NWLR (Part 192) 438

Nwosu v State (1986) 4 NWLR (Part 35) 348

 

The following statutes were referred to in this judgment:

 

Nigeria

 

Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act (Cap. 102 LFN 1990): S 1(1)(a), (b)(i), (2); 2(a), (b); (3)

Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act No 44 of 1977: S 1(1)(b)

 

OGUNTADE, JSC (DELIVERED THE LEADING JUDGMENT):- The appellant, Bolanle Abeke, was charged on an information, before the Abeokuta High Court of Ogun State for an offence under section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act No 44 of 1977. It was alleged that the appellant obtained a credit of N3,300 (Three Thousand, Three Hundred Naira) from one Ganiyu Ajayi by means of cheque no. UDB 130480, Nigeria-Arab Bank Nigeria Ltd, Odeda and, the said cheque when presented on due date was dishonoured on the ground that the appellant had no sufficient funds in her account to cover the face value of the said cheque.

 

The offence was tried by Popoola, J. The prosecution called seven witnesses. The appellant testified in her own defence and called three other witnesses. On 11 October 1995, Popoola, J in his well-written and comprehensive judgment found the appellant guilty as charged. The appellant was sentenced to a two-year term of imprisonment. Dissatisfied with her conviction, the appellant brought an appeal before the Court of Appeal, Ibadan (hereinafter referred to as "the court below"). The court below (coram: Roland, Ibiyeye and Tabai, JJCA) in a unanimous judgment on 4 July 2005 dismissed the appellant's appeal and affirmed the conviction of and the sentence imposed by the trial court. Still dissatisfied, the appellant has come before this Court on a final appeal. In the appellant's Brief filed, the appellant's Counsel has formulated a solitary issue for determination in the appeal. The said issue reads:-

 

"Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were right in affirming the decision of the trial court that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the circumstance of this case."

 

The respondent in its Brief agreed with the issue formulated for determination by the appellant. It is necessary to examine the case made against the appellant at the trial court by the prosecution in the consideration of the only issue for determination in this appeal. The case may be summarised thus: On 4 September 1981, the appellant sought from PW2, a loan of N2,000. She wanted to apply the money to execute a contract awarded to her by the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture. PW2 gave the appellant the loan sought from him. A week later, the appellant approached PW2 for a further loan of N2,000. PW2 gave the appellant N1,300. He however requested that the transaction be documented. The appellant opted to give a post-dated cheque for the total sum of N3,300 covering both loans. Being an illiterate, the appellant brought out her cheque book which she requested the PW2 to write upon for her evidencing the loan grant. The PW2 wrote the cheque which the appellant signed and rubber-stamped. The wife of PW2 had been present on the two occasions when the appellant came seeking the loan. She testified as PW3. The cheque leaf was post-dated to 29 September 1981. On that date PW2 paid the cheque into his account. The cheque Exhibit 'B' was returned unpaid.

 

The appellant, notwithstanding the pressure brought on her by PW2 to pay the money, did not do so. Rather, she sent emissaries to PW2 pleading for time. She wrote Exhibits 'A'-'A1' appealing to PW2. In 1989 some eight years after the loan was granted to the appellant, PW2 learnt that the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture had paid the appellant on the contract. Still, the appellant did not pay up. In frustration, the PW2 brought a suit against the appellant for the recovery of the sum of N3,300. The appellant, in reaction to the suit by PW2, reported to the Police that PW2 had stolen her cheque for N2,000. PW2 was arrested and prosecuted and thereafter discharged and acquitted. The appellant was thereafter charged for issuing a dud cheque.

 

I stated earlier that the wife of PW2 testified as PW3 and gave evidence as to the events which she had witnessed leading to the issuance of the cheque leaf Exhibit 'B'. PW4 was a handwriting analyst, who upon a comparison of the specimen signature of the appellant with the signature on the cheque leaf Exhibit 'B' stated that Exhibit 'B' in fact bore the signature of the appellant. PW5 was the accountant at the Nigeria Arab Bank, Odeda where the appellant kept an account. He tendered the statement of account of the appellant for the period 6 February 1981-29 December 1981 as Exhibit 'H'. Exhibit 'H' shows that the appellant's account with the Odeda branch of Nigeria Arab Bank was in the red to the tune of N494.80 with effect from 18 September 1981-29 September 1981 when Exhibit 'B' issued by the appellant was lodged by PW2 into his account. PWs 6 and 7 were the Investigating Police Officers.

 

The appellant testified in her own defence. She denied issuing the cheque, Exhibit 'B', to PW2. She admitted that PW2 granted her a loan of N1,500 out of which she paid back N500. She said further that her cheque book was lost in 1981 and she reported the loss to her bank in writing in 1982.

 

In reacting to the solitary issue for determination in this appeal, it is important to bear in mind the findings of fact made by the trial court. This is against the background that, when evidence is found to be incredible by the court of trial, such evidence becomes incapable of sustaining a defence built on it. At pages 44-46 of the record, the trial court held:-

 

"There is evidence before me that the accused signed Exhibit 'B'. PW4 testified here as having examined Exhibit 'B', he compared the signature thereon with the handwriting and signature of Exhibit 'A' (A letter of apology handwritten by the accused to PW2) as well as Exhibits 'D'-'D5' with comparative table shown on Exhibit 'E' which vividly revealed features of similarity and came to the conclusion that the writer of Exhibit 'A' (i.e. the accused) is the same as the writer of Exhibits 'D'-'D5' as well as the signature on Exhibit 'B' - (the offending cheque) which he said was even obvious to a lay man to see and compare. I believe the evidence of PW4. He has done a good job and the explanation even under devastating cross-examination was clear and straightforward - maintaining a steady stand and unshaken. This in turn confirmed PW2 whose evidence I also accept and believe.

 

It is noted that this PW4, the expert, was not contradicted, and was not cross-examined as to the accused not signing Exhibit 'B', and to me his credibility remains untainted due to failure to elicit any evidence adverse to the opinion of PW4, which is a basis to believe the said PW4. (See MIA & Sons Ltd v FHA (1991) 8 NWLR (Part 209) 295, 298 HOLDING 7 paragraphs 313 E-H).

 

Besides the evidence of the Handwriting Expert PW4, I have myself examined the signature on the said cheque - Exhibit 'B', with the letter and signature on Exhibit 'A' - Letter hand written by the accused as well as the specimen signatures on Exhibits 'D'-'D5' and the comparative table in Exhibits 'A', 'B', 'D', 'E', thereon and have compared them as well as Exhibit 'E' with the disputed signature on Exhibit 'B' and I have formed my opinion that they were all written and signed by the accused, which I believe I have power to do, being an option open to me, assuming I am not bound by the evidence of the expert witness (PW4). I am reinforced in this belief by the decision in Dr Aina v M.A. Jinadu & another (1992) 4 NWLR (Part 233) 91, 98 Holding 18 p.107 paragraphs F-G - plus also the fact that the accused in one breath said she lodged a written report, she next said, oral report but, that Exhibit 'L' was issued to her in replacement. PW5 or DW4, her own witness, testified that Exhibit L i.e. 104-010 series having nothing to do with Exhibits 'B', as '104' series were meant for debtors - i.e. those on Overdraft and cheques issued thereunder could never go into the Current Account 101-289 - whereas the impression the accused gave, was that she was issued Exhibit 'L' when she reported the loss of Exhibit 'B' - which she later found in her house after 8 years. I hold the strong view also, that Exhibit 'L' having no connection or relevance with Exhibit B, it is irrelevant in this case.

 

The accused admitted signing portions marked 'B' 'D' 'E' on Exhibit 'E' which incidentally are the signatures on Exhibit A, Exhibit 'B' and Exhibits 'D'-'D5' - what an irony - her sins have found her out.

 

In Exhibit J the accused admitted not reporting any loss of any cheque leaf either to the Bank or the police but in her testimony she first said she reported in writing, later still, that it was orally. Exhibit 'J' is inconsistent with her testimony. In cases like this, the trial court is entitled not only to reject the earlier extra judicial statement but also not to act upon the evidence in court - which will be treated as unreliable, and in the place of both the earlier statement and such evidence, the court will instead rely on the evidence adduced by the prosecution, and the witness (i.e. the accused here) treated as unreliable - but both the statement and her testimony must be assessed and evaluated by the Court together with other relevant evidence in order to reach a just decision - all or which I have done in this case. (See: Egboghonome v State (1990) 7 NWLR (Part 306) 383, 388-391 Holdings 4, 5, 6.)"

 

The court below in its judgment at pages 71-72 of the record affirmed the findings of the trial court in these words:-

 

"It is common ground that the appellant issued Exhibit 'B' in favour of the PW2. It is also common ground that Exhibit 'B' was returned to the PW2 (the drawee of Exhibit 'B') unpaid. The implication of that was that the cheque issued in favour of the PW2 was dishonoured for reason of insufficiency of funds to the appellant's credit.

No useful purpose will be served by considering the denial of the appellant as regards issuing Exhibit 'B' to the PW2. There is sumptuous evidence albeit uncontroverted that the appellant issued Exhibit B. (See Ferguson v Commissioner for Works & Housing Lagos State (1999) 4 NWLR (Part 638) 315 at 328; Chukwu v D. Ala (1999) 6 NWLR (Part 608) 674 at 681 and Boshali v Allied Commercial Exporters Ltd (1961) 2 SCNLR 322). It is trite that when evidence of a party to a suit is not debunked or challenged by the opposite party which had the opportunity to do so, the trial Court or tribunal seised of the proceedings ought to accept and act on it. The worthlessness of the appellant's denial is amply supported by the evidence of the PW2, the PW3 and the PW4 who are respectively the drawee of the dishonoured cheque, his wife and handwriting analyst who confirmed the fact of issuing Exhibit 'B' and that the signature on Exhibit 'B' was that of the appellant."

 

Before us in this Court, the main plank of the argument of appellant's Counsel was that Exhibit 'B', the dishounored cheque, should not be viewed as a medium of payment by the appellant to PW2 but rather as merely a documentation of the loan transactions between PW2 and the appellant. In other words, Counsel argued that Exhibit 'B' could not be regarded as being issued "to obtain credit". At page 7 of the appellant's Brief, it was argued thus:-

 

"PW2 admitted the appellant was an illiterate who could only sign her name. PW2 said since appellant did not issue a receipt he needed some form of documentation. The appellant produced her cheque book, handed it over to PW2 to fill it.

The only interpreter, beneficiary or victim therefore is PW2. He has said the purpose of issuing Exhibit 'B' was to capture or document the transaction. Any other meaning or presumption drawn would be absurd, extraneous to the transaction. The appellant can only be deemed to understand what PW2 said, that he wanted documentation of the transaction."

 

Appellant's Counsel relied on the following cases: Abayonu Adelenwa v The State (1972) 10 SC 13; Egboghonome v State (1993) 7 NWLR (Part 306) 383; Mohammed v State (1991) 5 NWLR (Part 192) 438; Nwosu v State (1986) 4 NWLR (Part 35) 348 and finally Alabi v State (1993) 7 NWLR (Part 307) 511.

In reacting to the submission of the appellant's Counsel, it is necessary to bear in mind the relevant evidence of PW2. At page 12 of the record of proceedings PW2 testified thus:-

 

"A week later she again begged for another N2,000 but he asked her to come back and he later gave her N1,300 because that was what he could afford. His wife was present on both occasions - but he on the second occasion insisted to have both documented - but accused said instead she would issue a post-dated cheque for both amounts. She opened her bag and brought out the cheque book but said she could only sign her name and put her stamp but could not write and even in the Bank she is always assisted to write her cheques. He obliged her and she signed the cheque and stamped it with her stamp and delivered same to him - a post-dated cheque dated 29 September 1981."

 

(Please note that the trial Judge recorded the evidence of PW2 in the third person rather than in the first person.)

 

A perusal of the above passage of the evidence of PW2 only shows that he had requested from the appellant a documentary proof of the transaction between him and the appellant. Perhaps a simple agreement evidencing the loan transaction would have satisfied PW2. But that is now a speculation. The evidence of PW2 shows that it was the appellant who offered to have the transaction documented by the issuance of her cheque. The issuance of a cheque has certain connotations in law. A cheque issued by a drawer and accepted by the drawee serves two purposes. One is that of documenting the particular transaction. The other is that, it is a medium of payment, the issuance of which has far reaching implications in law. I am unable to accept the argument of appellant's Counsel that the cheque issued by the appellant was to be seen only as a documentation of the loan transaction between the appellant and PW2; and that Exhibit 'B' be held not to possess the attributes ascribed by law to such an instrument.

 

In any case, the submission of the appellant's Counsel is utterly fanciful in the circumstances; and unrelated to the defence put up by the appellant. The defence of the appellant was that she did not issue Exhibit 'B', not that she understood it to be a mere statement of account. Did the appellant not know the implication of post-dating a cheque against a specific date? I do not think that the submission by appellant's Counsel on this score can be considered as a reasonable one. It was not the first time the appellant was handling a cheque. The standards set by law as to the liability imposed upon the drawer of a cheque cannot be varied in the circumstances of this case.

 

Section 1(1), (2), (3) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap. 102, Laws of the Federation, 1990 provides:-

 

"1.(1) Any person who:-

 

(a)     obtains or induces the delivery of anything capable of being stolen either to himself or to any other person; or

 

(b)     obtains credit for himself or any other person, by means of a cheque that, when presented for payment not later than three months after the date of the cheque, is dishonoured on the ground that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to the credit of the drawer of the cheque in the bank on which the cheque was drawn, shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall:-

 

(i)    in the case of an individual be sentenced to imprisonment for two years, without the option of a fine, and

 

(ii)    in the case of a body corporate be sentenced to a fine of not less than N5,00.

 

2.      For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section:-

 

(a)     the reference to anything capable of being stolen shall be deemed to include a reference to money and every other description of property, things in action and other intangible property;

 

(b)     a person who draws a cheque which is dishonoured on the ground stated in the subsection and which was issued in settlement or purported settlement of any obligation under an enforceable contract entered into between the drawer of the cheque and the person to whom the cheque was issued, shall be deemed to have obtained credit for himself by means of the cheque notwithstanding that at the time when the contract was entered into, the manner in which the obligation would be settled was not specified.

 

3.      A person shall not be guilty of an offence under this section if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that when he issued the cheque he had reasonable grounds for believing, and did believe in fact, that it would be honoured if presented for payment within the period specified in subsection (1) of this section."

 

On the facts as found by the two courts below, there was not doubt that the appellant had committed an offence under section 1(2)(b) above. She had issued a cheque in settlement of an obligation arising under an enforceable contract, which said cheque was dishonoured when presented not later than three months after the date of the cheque.

 

I am of the firm conviction that the guilt of the appellant was established before the trial court and that her conviction and sentence were properly affirmed by the court below.

 

This appeal has no merit. It is dismissed.

 

KUTIGI, CJN:- I have had the privilege of reading in advance the judgment just delivered by my learned brother, Oguntade, JSC. I entirely agree with him that the appeal has no merit. There is abundant evidence on record which shows that the appellant committed the offence for which she was charged and convicted. I am clearly of the view that she was rightly convicted by the trial Court and her conviction and sentence were also properly upheld by the Court of Appeal. The appeal is accordingly dismissed.

 

TOBI, JSC:- This is an appeal involving a dishonoured cheque. The case of the respondent can be briefly stated. The appellant was a contractor. She was a business associate of PW2. She secured a contract from the Ministry of Agriculture Ogun State to build a house. She ran out of funds. She approached PW2 for a loan. PW2 gave her an initial loan of N2,000. That was on 4 September 1991. A week later, the appellant returned for another loan of N2,000. This time around, PW2 did not give her the whole sum. He gave her N1,300. The total value of the loan came to N3,300. PW2 requested for the documentation of the two transactions. Instead of documentation of the transactions, the appellant gave PW2 a post-dated cheque to cover the two loans. This was acceptable to PW2. After all, cheque is money.

 

On 29 September 1991, date of honouring the cheque, PW2 presented it for honour but the cheque bounced, using the common market expression. In commercial and banking language the cheque was returned unpaid with the remark "Return to Drawer".

 

The appellant was charged for an offence under section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act No 44 of 1977. In her evidence, the appellant denied that she issued the dishonoured cheque. Popoola, J did not believe her story. He rather believed that of the prosecution. The appellant was sent to prison for two years. Her appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed. She has come to this Court.

 

The crux of the case of the appellant is that the prosecution failed to discharge the burden of proof in the case. She has danced around Exhibit 'B' the dishonoured cheque. On the contrary, it is the case of the respondent that the prosecution proved its case against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

 

Reasonable doubt is doubt founded on reason which is rational; devoid of sentiment, speculation or parochialism. The doubt should be real and not imaginative. The evidential burden is satisfied if a reasonable man is of the view that from the totality of the evidence before the court, the accused person committed the offence. The proof is not beyond all shadow of doubt. There could be shadows of doubt here and there but when the pendulum tilts towards and in favour of the fact that the accused person committed the offence, a court of law is entitled to convict even though there are shadows of doubt here and there.

 

It is the submission of learned Counsel for the appellant that the prosecution did not prove the mens rea and the actus reus of the section 1(1)(b) of Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, 1990 offence. Let me quickly read the subsection:-

 

"Any person who obtains credit for himself or any other person by means of a cheque that when presented for payment not later than three months after the date of the cheque is dishonoured on the ground that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to the credit of the drawer of the cheque in the bank on which the cheque was drawn shall be guilty of an offence."

 

I entirely agree with the appellant that to convict on the above subsection, the prosecution must prove that the accused had mens rea and actus reus. Put in common simple parlance, mens rea mean a guilty mind. And actus reus means a guilty act. In cases of strict liability, mens rea comes before actus reus. In other words, the accused develops the guilty mind before guilty act. Put in another language, the guilty mind instigates the guilty act or flows into the guilty act. The period of time between the two cannot be determined in vacuo but in relation to the factual situation in each case dictated by the state of criminality of the accused at the material time. There are instances where the mens rea is automatically followed by the actus reus. The above element of proximity apart, there could be instances of spontaneity too.

 

It is clear to me from the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, PW2, PW3 and Exhibit 'B' that the prosecution proved the mens rea and the actus reus of the offence charged. While I do not know when the appellant formed or developed the mens rea (a knowledge only available to the Almighty God) the actus reus is on Exhibit B.

 

 

The appellant in her evidence-in-chief and under cross-examination denied issuing or signing Exhibit B. She said in her evidence-in-chief at page 25 of the Record:-

 

"I did not issue Exhibit 'B' to PW2."

 

Under cross-examination, she said at page 26 of the Record:-

 

"I did not issue Exhibit 'B'. I did not sign Exhibit 'B'. I lost my cheque book in 1981 but I reported in 1982."

 

Against the above is the expert evidence of PW4, the handwriting analyst. He said in his evidence-in-chief at page 16 of the Record:-

 

"I took Exhibit 'B' to the laboratory where I examined the signature therein with the aid of a video spectra comparator. The examination revealed evidence of natural execution devoid of simultation of a known model signature. On comparison with the signature with Exhibits 'A' and 'D'-'D5' I found them characteristically identical. I equally carried out a comparison of the handwriting on Exhibit 'B' with the specimen on Exhibit 'C'-'C5' and found features of similarity peculiar to one writer, i.e. the writer of Exhibit 'C' to 'C5' wrote the handwriting contained in Exhibit 'B'."

 

Reacting to the above evidence, the learned trial Judge said at pages 44 and 45 of the Record:-

 

"There is evidence before me that the accused signed Exhibit 'B'. PW4 testified here as having examined Exhibit 'B', he compared the signature thereon with the handwriting and signature on Exhibit 'A' (letter of apology handwritten by the accused to PW2) as well as Exhibits 'D'-'D5' with comparative table shown on Exhibit 'E' which vividly revealed features of similarity and came to the conclusion that the writer of Exhibit 'A' (i.e. the accused) is the same as the writer of Exhibits 'D'-'D5' as well as the signature on Exhibit 'B' (the offending cheque) which he said was even obvious to a lay man to see and compare. I believe the evidence of PW4. He has done a good job and the explanation even under devastating cross examination was clear and straight forward - maintaining a steady stand and unshaken. This in turn confirmed PW2 whose evidence I also accept and believe.

 

It is noted that this PW4 - the expert was not contradicted, and was not cross-examined as to the accused not signing Exhibit B, and to me his credibility remains untainted due to failure to elicit any evidence adverse to the opinion of PW4, which is a basis to believe the said PW4.

 

(See MIA & Sons Ltd v FHA (1991) 8 NWLR (Part 209) 295, 298 HOLDING 7 page 313 paragraphs E-H)."

 

The learned trial Judge did not stop there. He examined the Exhibits and came to the conclusion that Exhibit 'B' was signed by the appellant. He said at page 45:-

 

"Besides the evidence of the Handwriting Expert PW4, I have myself examined the signature on the said cheque - Exhibit 'B', with the letter and signature on Exhibit 'A' - Letter hand written by the accused as well as the specimen signatures on Exhibits 'D'-'D5' and the comparative table in Exhibit E, 'B', 'D', 'E', thereon and have compared them as well as Exhibit 'E' with the disputed signature on Exhibit 'B' and I have formed my opinion that they were all written and signed by the accused, which I believe I have power to do, being an option open to me, assuming I am not bound by the evidence of the expert witness (PW4). I am reinforced in this belief by the decision in Dr Aina v M.A. Jinadu & another (1992) 4 NWLR (Part 233) 91, 98 HOLDING 18 p. 107 paragraphs F-G.

 

Plus also the fact that the accused in one breath said she lodged a written report, she next said, oral report but, that Exhibit L was issued to her in replacement. PW5 or DW4, her own witness, testified that Exhibit L, i.e. 104-010 series having nothing to do with Exhibits 'B', as '104' series were meant for debtors - i.e. those on Overdraft and cheques issued thereunder could never go into the Current Account 101-289 - whereas the impression the accused gave, was that she was issued Exhibit 'L' when she reported the loss of Exhibit 'B' - which she later found in her house after 8 years. I hold the strong view also, that Exhibit 'L' having no connection or relevance with Exhibit 'B', it is irrelevant in this case."

 

Learned Counsel for the appellant argued that although the learned trial Judge said that lying is no evidence of guilt, he got "totally soaked into the lies of the appellant as shown in his outburst of emotions at page 47 of the Record." That is a fairly rude one on a Judge and I condemn it. Parties do not win cases by casting aspersion on a Judge who has no opportunity to defend himself beyond the cold records of appeal. A trial Judge, in my view, can call a witness a liar in his judgment if that is borne out from the evidence. That is exactly what Popoola, J did. I do not think he deserves the sledge-hammer of Counsel. I am clearly with the learned trial Judge that the appellant is a liar. I equally agree with him that the "accused has not made a clear breast of the whole sordid affair. She has borrowed money to prosecute a project from PW2 (and) instead of being grateful to PW2, has repaid him with terrible lies . . ." Let Counsel refrain from bringing the Judge, the unbiased umpire so to say, to the theatre of the litigation and rub him with muck. That will be tantamount to reducing the height that the law has bestowed on the Judge.

 

Counsel also submitted that the intention of the parties as established in evidence was that the cheque should serve as documentation, receipt, acknowledgment, evidence, just to have a piece of documentary evidence of the transaction not an instrument for payment as a legal tender. This is quite a new one for me to learn. I do not think I am prepared to learn it. How can learned Counsel say that a post-dated cheque serves as a document, receipt or acknowledgment? A cheque is a written order to a bank to pay a certain sum of money from one's bank account to oneself or to another person. It is for all intents and purposes an instrument for payment. It metamorphosis into physical cash on due presentation at the bank and that makes it legal tender. It is interesting that learned Counsel conceded at page 9 of the brief that "truly a cheque is always regarded as a legal tender or an instrument for payment once it is duly completed and signed with date. That is the correct position and the reverse position taken by Counsel is not at all available to him.

 

Let me recapitulate the events that led to the cheque issued by the appellant to PW2. I had earlier mentioned them. After the second loan, PW2 requested that the transaction be documented. The appellant suggested that instead of documentation of the transaction, she would issue a post-dated cheque. This she did and the cheque was dated to 29 September 1991. Where then lies the argument of learned Counsel that the cheque was not intended to be an instrument of payment or legal tender but as a mere documentation, receipt or acknowledgment? In my humble view, the position should have really reflected the submission of Counsel if the appellant acceded to the request of PW2 that the transaction be documented. By the post-dated cheque, the appellant's real intention was to pay the loan.

 

I think I can stop here. It is for the above reasons and the more comprehensive reasons of my learned brother, Oguntade, JSC, in his judgment that I too dismiss the appeal. It has no merit at all.

 

MUKHTAR, JSC:- The judgment just delivered by my learned brother, Oguntade, JSC has been read by me. I agree with the reasoning and conclusion reached therein, that the appeal has no merit whatsoever. I would however like to make a short addition by way of emphasis.

The provision of section 3 of the Dishonoured Cheques (offences) Act, Cap. 102, Laws of the Federation, 1990 has made exemption for who may not come within the provision of section 1(1) of the said law.

 

By virtue of section 1(3):-

 

"A person shall not be guilty of an offence under this section if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that when he issued the cheque he had reasonable grounds for believing, and did believe in fact, that it would be honoured if presented for payment within the period, specified in subsection (1) of this section."

 

It is on record that the appellant signed an Arab Bank cheque dated 29 September 1981, Exhibit 'B', when her account was already in debit, as is evidenced by the evidence of the Branch Accountant (PW5) who testified, inter alia, thus:-

 

"As at 6 August 1981 a cheque of N6,370 was lodged and as from that date to 18 September 1981 the balance in the Account was N494.80 Debit-meaning the account was in red and the Bank had given her an overdraft of N494.80. As at 29 September 1981 no transaction, account still in RED."

 

However the defence of the appellant was a total denial of ever issuing the cheque, but that the cheque book containing the cheque leaf Exhibit 'B' had been stolen. The learned trial Judge was not satisfied with this defence and found thus in his judgment:-

 

"There is evidence before me that the accused signed Exhibit 'B'. PW4 testified here as having examined Exhibit 'B', he compared the signature thereon with the hand writing and signature on Exhibit 'A' (letter of apology hand written by the accused to PW2) as well as Exhibits 'D'-'D5' with comparative table shown on Exhibit 'E' which vividly revealed features of similarity and came to the conclusion that the writer of Exhibit 'A' (i.e. the accused) is the same as the writer of Exhibits 'D'-'D5' as well as the signature of Exhibit 'B' - (the offending cheque) which he said was even obvious to a lay man to see and compare. I believe the evidence of PW4 . . . This in turn confirmed PW2 whose evidence I also accept and believe."

 

It is the prerogative of a trial Judge who sees and listens to witnesses to choose which to believe and ascribe probative value to his or her evidence. It is not the place of an Appellate Court to evaluate evidence, which has already been evaluated by a trial court which has not been shown to be perverse, and the position of the law is very clear on this. An Appellate Court will not interfere with findings based on such evaluation unless it is found to be erroneous. (See Chindo Worldwide Ltd v Total (Nigeria) Plc (2001) 16 NWLR (Part 739) 291).

 

The lower court was correct when in its lead judgment the learned justice said, inter alia, "I hold that the findings of fact by the trial court is not perverse. I am guided by the foregoing principle and accordingly restrained myself from interfering with the findings of the trial court."

 

In this wise I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the appellant did not avail herself of the provision of section 1(3) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act (supra). This is an appeal on concurrent findings of facts which this Court will not ordinarily disturb unless the findings are not supported by credible evidence and are thus perverse. In the present case the findings are not so perverse. (See Ibodo v Enarofia (1980) 5-7 SC 42; Aseimo v Abraham 16 NWLR (Part 738) 20 and Chinwendu v Mbamali (1980) 3-4 SC 31).

 

In view of the above discussion and the fuller reasoning in the lead judgment I also dismiss the appeal in its entirety.

 

ONNOGHEN, JSC:- This is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal holden at Ibadan in appeal no. CA/1/36/2003 delivered on 4 July 2005 dismissing the appeal of the appellant against the judgment of the Ogun State High Court holden at Abeokuta in charge no. AB/5C/93 delivered on 11 October 1995 in which the Court convicted and sentenced the appellant to a term of two years' imprisonment under section 1(1)(b)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap. 102, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

 

The facts of this case are very simple and straightforward. The appellant who is a contractor, is a close associate of PW2, one Ganiyu Ajayi. In the course of carrying out her trade, the appellant secured a contract from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State to build a house but later on ran out of funds and approached PW2 for a loan. PW2 lent the appellant the sum of N2,000 on 4 September 1991 but the appellant returned a week later for another loan of N2,000 but PW2 could only afford N1,300 which was handed over to the appellant with a request that the two transactions be documented. The appellant rather preferred to issue a post-dated cheque to cover the two loans, which she did. The cheque was presented on 29 September 1991 for payment but was later returned unpaid with the remark "Return to Drawer". The matter was reported to the Police and the appellant was charged to Court for issuing a dishonoured cheque and was tried, convicted and sentenced as earlier stated in this judgment.

 

The issue for determination as stated in the appellant's Brief filed on 17 July 2006 by learned Counsel for the appellant is:-

 

"whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were right in affirming the decision of the trial court that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the circumstance of this case . . ."

 

In arguing the appeal, learned Counsel for the appellant submitted that there is no evidence before the court to the effect that the appellant induced the complainant, PW2, to give or loan her money for which she pledged her cheque and thereby secured credit; that evidence on record is that the appellant had been given a N2,000 loan earlier and later N1,300 but for want of written evidence in relation to the transaction appellant offered her cheque; that the cheque, Exhibit 'B' was issued without giving the impression that the appellant had money or would have money but "strictly to capture the transaction for the records as demanded by the complainant (PW2) . . . In this very case both parties mutually agreed that the cheque would be evidence of the transaction not a legal tender."

 

In the first place I have to observe that the above position of learned Counsel is very different from the case of the appellant at the trial where she stated that at the material time her cheque book was stolen and she did not sign the cheque in issue. That denial made it necessary for the prosecution to call PW3, a handwriting expert who testified to the contrary and whose evidence was believed by the trial court; whose decision was affirmed by the lower court. Even with regard to the present position of the appellant which accepts issuing the cheque but for the purpose of documenting the transaction instead of simply writing out an IOU or a simple agreement acknowledging the debt, the facts of the case as accepted by the trial court demonstrate clearly that the appellant knew what she was doing particularly, as she obtained the loans of N2,000 and N1,300 from PW2 and when it was requested by the said PW2 that the transaction be reduced into writing appellant rather issued her post-dated cheque for the total sum due and payable by the appellant to the said PW2 which cheque was returned unpaid upon presentation. I do not think that learned Counsel for the appellant is pretending not to know the purpose for which cheques are issued in transactions of the nature under consideration. I do not also think and, there is no evidence on record which was believed by the learned trial Judge, that the cheque, Exhibit 'B', was anything but means by which appellant obtained credit from the said PW2 and that the said Exhibit 'B' was dishonoured upon presentation for payment. There is no dispute that the appellant obtained a credit of N3,300 from PW2 for which she issued the post-dated cheque, Exhibit 'B' for refund or repayment which was dishonoured.

 

Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap. 102, 1990 provides as follows:-

 

"Any person who obtained credit for himself or any other person by means of a cheque that when presented for payment not later than three months after the date of the cheque is dishonoured on the ground that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to the credit of the drawer of the cheque in the bank on which the cheque was drawn shall be guilty of an offence . . ."

 

From the above, the duty on the prosecution is to prove:-

 

(a)     that the appellant obtained credit by herself;

 

(b)     that the cheque was presented within three months of the date thereon; and

 

(c)     that on presentation the cheque was dishonoured on the ground that there was not sufficient funds or insufficient funds standing to the credit of the drawer of the cheque in the bank on which the cheque was drawn.

 

From the facts it is clear that the prosecution duly discharged that burden of proof.

 

The above notwithstanding, section 1(2)(b) of Cap. 102 (supra) provides thus:-"(2)        for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section

 

a.      . . .

 

b.      a person who draws a cheque which is dishonoured on the ground stated in the subsection and which was issued in settlement or purported settlement of any obligation under an enforceable contract entered into between the drawer of the cheque and the person to whom the cheque was issued shall be deemed to have obtained credit for himself by means of the cheque notwithstanding that at the time when the contract was entered into, the manner in which the obligation would be settled was not specified."

 

It is my considered view that having regard to the facts of this case and the applicable law the trial court was right in convicting and sentencing the appellant for the offence charged and that the Court of Appeal was right in affirming that decision.

 

It is also to be noted that this appeal is on concurrent findings of facts and the appellant has not satisfied this Court that this case is a proper one under the law for which this Court should intervene to set aside the concurrent findings of facts made by the lower courts. I hold the view that the failure of the appellant to so satisfy this Court is fatal to the appeal.

 

I therefore agree with the reasoning and conclusion of my learned brother, Oguntade, JSC that the appeal lacks merit and should be dismissed. I dismiss it accordingly.

 

Appeal dismissed.