By Desire Emmanuel
A young man who spent 19 months fighting for freedom over an offence he knew nothing about after a policeman brandished cutlass and forced him to sign an implicating statement has now regained his freedom.
An advocacy group that usually visits prisons and courts in Lagos State, Headfort Foundation for Justice, announced the matter on Friday evening on its X handle, saying the man, known simply as Henry, who came to search for job in Lagos State from Plateau State, was employed as a factory worker in December 2023.
It was gathered that after returning from the Christmas break on January 15, 2024, he found an abandoned cable in the company premises and showed it to the security guard, who confirmed it was not in use.
Later that same day, Henry was said to have been summoned by the Human Resource department and accused, alongside the security guard, of vandalising company’s property.
It was gathered that the police were invited and both men were arrested. But while the security guard was released on bail at the police station, Henry was not.
At the police station, reports said the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) decided to write statement for Henry, but when he insisted on writing the statement himself, the police officer allegedly assaulted him with a cutlass and forced him to sign the statement he did not write.
After four days in police custody, Henry was arraigned on January 19, 2024 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing and he pleaded not guilty.
He was granted bail in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum, but due to his inability to meet the bail conditions, he was remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre for over a week before the bail was eventually perfected.
The foundation wrote: “Despite being out on bail, Henry’s case dragged on for over a year with endless adjournments and no witnesses appearing in court.
“The matter passed through six prosecutors, two magistrates, and three defence lawyers, yet there was no progress. Henry continued to attend court, travelling from Jos each time, with no sign of justice in sight.”
The foundation got wind of the case during one of its advocacy visits to the court and after hearing his plight, one of the lawyers decided to take up the matter and started representing him in court.
After many adjournments, the lawyer urged the court to strike out the case for want of diligent prosecution. The court, after reviewing the case history, granted the prayers of the lawyer, struck out the case, discharged and acquitted Henry after spending 19 months fighting for his freedom.
