A young Nigerian man has regained his freedom after spending over five years in detention for taking part in the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality, in a case rights advocates have described as a clear example of injustice and abuse of the criminal justice system.
The non-governmental organisation Tech4Justice disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the young man was only 17 years old when he was arrested in October 2020. The group said he was wrongfully detained and prosecuted on what it described as fabricated and unsubstantiated charges.
According to the organisation, the teenager was arrested during the nationwide #EndSARS protests that erupted across Nigeria over allegations of police brutality and extrajudicial killings linked to the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Instead of being treated as a minor exercising his constitutional right to peaceful protest, he was charged with serious offences, including unlawful possession of firearms with intent to commit robbery and unlawful wearing of armed forces uniform—allegations his lawyers insist were never backed by credible evidence.
Tech4Justice, in a statement, said: “After over 5 years of languishing behind bars for simply protesting against police brutality during the #EndSARS protest, we have finally secured the release of this young man who was only 17 years old when he was arrested in October 2020."
Meanwhile, in 2021, when his case was brought before the Lagos State High Court, he was charged with all sorts of criminal charges including unlawful possession of firearms with intent to commit robbery and unlawful wearing of armed forces uniform, yet not one shred of evidence was ever presented to substantiate the claims.
The organisation further explained that its Lagos-based legal team only stepped into the matter in 2024 after the death of the young man’s former counsel, Mr. Adeshina Ogunlana, Esq.
However, the case was subsequently referred to them by the Take-It-Back Movement, a civic advocacy group known for its involvement in rights-based campaigns and protest movements.
"Our legal team in Lagos only became involved in 2024, following the passing of his former lawyer, Mr. Ogunlana, Esq., when the case was referred to us by @TIBMovement,” the group said.
Court documents showed that despite the gravity of the allegations filed against the teenager at the Lagos State High Court in 2021, the prosecution repeatedly failed to produce witnesses or tender evidence to substantiate its claims. The matter was adjourned several times over the years, prolonging his detention.
"Since then, the case has suffered multiple adjournments as the prosecution failed to present a witness," Tech4Justice said.
"Today, we applied for the case to be struck out due to a lack of diligent prosecution, and the court granted our prayer.”
"Seeing our client walk out of the courtroom a free man today and reunite with his family after over five years of unjust detention gave us great joy,” it added.
On the day of the ruling, Tech4Justice’s lawyers applied for the case to be struck out on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.
The court granted the application, effectively bringing an end to a five-year legal ordeal that rights activists have described as a miscarriage of justice.
Tech4Justice vowed to continue pursuing justice for other detainees facing similar circumstances.
“For him, and for countless others enduring Nigeria’s unjust justice system, we will continue to fight tirelessly,” the organisation stated. “May justice always prevail.”
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