Lafia, Nasarawa State – In the aftermath of the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming Governor Abdullahi Sule as the rightful winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State, a total of thirty-eight individuals suspected of participating in protests against the judgment have been remanded at the Lafia Correctional Center. The arrest and subsequent legal action were initiated by the state Commissioner of Police, Umaru Shehu Nadada, who deemed the protests a public disturbance.
The suspected protesters, comprising thirty-three women and five men, were brought before the Chief Magistrate Court three in Lafia. The arrests stemmed from security operations targeting aggrieved protesters, primarily women, following the Supreme Court decision.
During the court proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Danjuma Allu, presented the case for hearing. Chief Magistrate Mohammed Abdullahi Lanze, however, reserved his ruling for Monday, January 22, 2024.
Despite the defense counsel, Iliya Ashokpa, pleading for bail on behalf of the defendants, the request was denied. The thirty-eight individuals, which also include a man allegedly apprehended while retrieving his vehicle from a mechanic, were subsequently transported to the Nigeria Correctional Center in Lafia to await trial.
The Supreme Court’s judgment on Friday solidified Governor Abdullahi Sule’s position as the legitimate winner of the Nasarawa State governorship election. This decision triggered protests from disgruntled women and men across the state, culminating in the arrests that have now led to their remand in the Lafia Correctional Center.
