Someone once said, Apologizing doesn’t mean you’re wrong, it just means you value peace.
Well… in law, that’s not always true.
Sometimes, your apology can be used as evidence of guilt especially in criminal or civil cases.
Imagine this:
You accidentally hit someone’s car and quickly say, I’m so sorry! It was my fault. That single sentence can later be tendered in court as proof that you admitted liability.
Or in a criminal case, if you tell the victim’s family,Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to hurt him,that apology may be seen as a confession, unless proven to have been made under duress or emotion.
✅ Legal Angle:
- Under Section 20 of the Evidence Act, 2011, an admission is any statement made by a person suggesting that they committed a fact in issue. So, if your apology suggests you were responsible, the court may treat it as an admission.
- In Audu v. State (2016) LPELR 40285(CA), the Court of Appeal held that any voluntary statement admitting guilt, even if made informally, can be relied upon as evidence if proved to be made freely
However if your apology was made during mediation, negotiation, or peace settlement, such statements are usually protected under Section 26 of the Evidence Act, which excludes without prejudice communications from being used as evidence in court.
🍲 Pepper Soup Wisdom:
In life, saying sorry shows humility.
In law, saying sorry without wisdom can cost you your peace. When issues arise, apologize wisely or better yet, let your lawyer do the talking.
Source: Legal Matters with Bar Ronke Ahaotu
