VI. RESPONDENT’S CASE a) Summary of facts 21.The Respondent denies each and every allegation of facts contained in the Applicants’ narration of facts, asserting that they did not violate the Applicants’ rights to a fair hearing as that at no point were the Applicants denied their right to file an appeal as alleged. 22.They state that under the Nigerian laws, individuals have the right to appeal the decision of the court at any time even when the statutory period for appeal has elapsed. This is because the rules of courts provide for application for extension time to accommodate parties seeking appeal even where the time stipulated has elapsed. 23.It is also their submission that the use of confession under the Nigerian Law is a valid ground for conviction of an accused person, and this validates any conviction based on confessional statements thus the Applicants conviction and sentenced accordingly lawful. 24.They assert that the Applicants have the right to counsel of their choice and can at any time decline the service of any lawyer representing them where they are not satisfied with the representation. That the Applicants never at any time during trial complained of any unsatisfactory legal representation. 25.The Respondent puts the Applicants to the strictest proof of the facts contained in the Applicants’ narration of facts and state that the Applicants have neither attached the said judgments nor court processes to prove their 10