Summary of Sampson Nwaekweghinya v. The State

Sampson Nwaekweghinya v. The State

(Where accused omitted to request interpreter, failure to provide is treated as procedural irregularity i.e. it is fundamental only where it leads to miscarriage of justice)

The appellant was arraigned for murder. He gave his confessional statement which was recorded by the police officers in English, in a language which was not understood by the appellant. Also the evidence against him wasn’t interpreted in Igbo language in a language the appellant, it was interpreted in English. The Supreme Court stated that when the investigating police officer who read the statement to the appellant, in English language, the appellant should have at that occasion told the superior officer that he doesn’t understand English language.