Court Acquits Ibrahim Usman After 10 Years in Custody

On March 14, 2024, the Lagos State High Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi, discharged and acquitted Ibrahim Usman, who had spent 10 years in custody without conviction. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish the charges of defilement against Usman beyond a reasonable doubt.

Usman was arrested on June 14, 2016, for allegedly engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl in February 2016. However, charges were not filed until March 2017.

The court noted that the prosecution's case was weak and lacked essential evidence, including the absence of a medical report and the failure to call key witnesses. Justice Oshodi criticized the prolonged detention as a grave failure of the criminal justice system, emphasizing the need for diligence in prosecuting cases.

The court ordered Usman's immediate release, declaring him not guilty.