Citizens Gavel Secures Freedom for Lagos Teen After Four Years

A Lagos teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed, was detained for nearly four years after being arrested in 2022 for wearing slippers similar to those of a complainant. Citizens Gavel, a non-governmental organization, intervened after discovering his case during a visit to the Medium Security Correctional Centre in January 2024.

Despite being in custody since 2022, he had never been taken to court. Citizens Gavel's legal team tracked the case, appearing before Justice Coker more than seven times, but the prosecution failed to produce any witnesses.

In early 2025, the case was transferred to Justice Oshodi's court, where the charges were read, and the teenager pleaded not guilty. Citizens Gavel filed a No Case Submission, arguing the prosecution had not established a case.

The court upheld this submission, discharging and acquitting the teenager. Citizens Gavel noted that throughout the ordeal, no family member or lawyer represented the defendants in court.