“Conversely, with particular regard to a statute establishing a time limit for prosecuting a crime, the object is to limit exposure to criminal prosecution to a certain fixed period of time in consequence of the occurrence of the criminal acts sanctioned by the legislature. As aptly held by the US Supreme Court in TOUSSIE VS. US: “Such a limitation is designed to protect individuals from having to defend themselves against charges when the basic facts have become obscured by the passage of time and to minimize the danger of official punishment because of acts in the fur distant past. Such a time limit may also have the salutary effect of encouraging law enforcement officials promptly to investigate suspected criminal activity See TOUSSIE VS. US, 397 US 112, 90 S. Ct. (1970) @ 858.”” Per I.M.M SAULAWA, JSC in EZE V. UMAHI & 3ORS (2022-LCER-46647-SC) @Pp.40-41, G – C.