By Desire Emmanuel
A man who spent nine months in prison custody after he was arrested due to the way he looked while passing through a scene of murder has been released after a legal advice said he had no case to answer.
The man, whose name was given simply as Oladapo, was arrested on July 2, 2025 following a street fight that led to the death of an individual at an area in Lagos State. He was arrested while passing through the road on the second day of the incident.
The police were said to have picked him not because of any evidence, but because of how he looked, as he had tattoos on his body and also pierced his ears. They eventually accused him of being involved in the incident.
After his arrest, he was first taken to the Elere Police Station, Agege, and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, where he spent three days in custody.
He was arraigned on July 5, 2025 for murder at the Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded not guilty. He was remanded in prison where he eventually spent nine months.
His plight got to the attention of an advocacy group, the Headfort Foundation for Justice, during one of its visits to prisons and courts. After hearing from him, one of the lawyers took up his case and began to represent him in court.
The foundation announced the development on its X handle on Friday, May 1, 2026.
After taking over his case, the foundation wrote the Director of Public Prosecution twice for legal advice on the matter. When the legal advice was finally issued, it confirmed that there was no case against Oladapo.
On April 7 this year, the lawyer urged the court to strike out the case for want of diligent prosecution.
The request was granted. Oladapo was discharged and acquitted after spending nine months in prison custody because of the way he looked.
