Impact Stories
Aliyu is an indigene of Kwara State and a
bricklayer, while Quadri is from Oyo State and a footballer. Both
lived around Agbado- Ijaiye area of Lagos State. On the 26th
day of December 2020, a carnival was being held at Agbado- Ijaiye to mark
the end of the year 2020, when some police officers come to the scene of the
carnival to arrest those partaking in it. Aliyu was on his way back from work
on that same day when he was arrested by the police.
On the other hand, Quadri was on his way out on the 27th day
of December 2020, when he arrested by the chairman of the area who took him
to the police station as part of those who partook in the carnival.
At the Police station, Aliyu and Quadri met each other for the
first time, and both tried explaining that they were not part of those who
partook in the carnival, but their explanations fell on deaf ears. Quadri tried
calling his family to come and bail him out at the station, but no one showed
up for him. When it was time for them to be arraigned, their statements were
taken by the police, and both were charged to court for `Stealing.
On arraignment in January 2021, the Court admitted them
to bail in the sum of N50,000 each with
other bail conditions, and remanded them in custody until they could
perfect their bail. Aliyu and Quadri had no one to help them with their bail,
thus, remained in Prison for months.
After arraignment, they were remanded at the police station
because of the congestion of the Correctional Center before they were later taken
to Kirikiri correctional center.
On the 30th of June 2021, Aliyu and Quadri
met one of the Lawyers at Headfort Foundation stationed at the Ogba Magistrate
Court (one of the Mobile Offices of our “Lawyers
Without Border” Project) who took their brief.
They gave our lawyer the information at their
disposal but same was not detailed, thus a due diligence was carried out in the
court on the matter to know the state of the matter before the strike. The due
diligence revealed that the matter had suffered several adjournments because
the prosecution witnesses were not always present in court.
On
the 13th day of July 2021, our lawyer upon realizing again that the
prosecution's witnesses are not in court, applied to the court for the striking
out of the charges against Aliyu and Quadri. The Court granted the application,
and they were discharged.
Aliyu and Quadri spent 7 months in custody for no
just cause before their release.
