Lagos Teen Detained Over Slippers Freed After Nearly Four Years
Teenager was arrested in 2022 and remained in custody without being taken to court
A Lagos teenager who was detained in 2022 over an allegation involving a pair of slippers has regained his freedom after spending nearly four years in custody.
The teenager, whose identity has not been disclosed, was among two detainees whose cases were taken up by the non-governmental organisation Citizens Gavel after its legal team discovered them during a visit to the Medium Security Correctional Centre in January 2024.
Arrest Linked to Similar Slippers
According to PUNCH, the teenager was allegedly arrested because he was wearing slippers similar to those belonging to the complainant.
Despite his arrest, the teenager reportedly spent months in custody without being taken before a court to face the allegation.
Citizens Gavel subsequently intervened in the case as part of its legal assistance work for people who had remained in detention without their cases being properly resolved.
The organisation’s intervention eventually led to the teenager’s release and acquittal.
Freed After Nearly Four Years
The teenager had spent almost four years behind bars before his case was resolved.
His case highlights the consequences that prolonged detention without trial can have on suspects, particularly where allegations have not progressed to a formal court hearing.
The teenager was reportedly among two people whose cases were reviewed by Citizens Gavel after the organisation’s legal team encountered them during its correctional-centre visit.
Citizens Gavel Takes Up Case
Citizens Gavel, a Nigerian civil society organisation that provides legal assistance and advocates for access to justice, took up the teenager’s case after identifying his prolonged detention.
The organisation’s intervention helped bring attention to the fact that he had remained in custody for an extended period without being brought before a court.
The teenager was subsequently released and acquitted, bringing an end to the nearly four-year period he spent in detention.
The case has renewed attention on the importance of timely court proceedings and access to legal representation for people held in correctional facilities.
