Justice Delayed But Not Denied: #EndSARS Protester Arrested at 17 Finally Regains Freedom After 5 Years

After spending over five years—nearly his entire young adulthood—behind bars, a young man arrested during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests has finally walked out of a Lagos courtroom a free man. The youth, who was just 17 years old at the time of his arrest, has been languishing in detention since the height of the demonstrations against police brutality.

​His release follows a persistent legal battle led by his defense team, who took over the case in 2024 after it was referred by the Take It Back (TIB) Movement. The case had stalled for years, particularly following the passing of his former counsel, Mr. Ogunlana, Esq.

​A Case Built on "Zero Evidence"

​The legal journey of this young man highlights the systemic issues within Nigeria’s judicial process. In 2021, when he was brought before the Lagos State High Court, he faced a litany of severe criminal charges, including:

• ​Unlawful possession of firearms with intent to commit robbery.
• ​Unlawful wearing of armed forces uniform.

​Despite these heavy accusations, the defense maintained that not one shred of evidence was ever presented by the prosecution to substantiate the claims. Since the new legal team stepped in, the case suffered from a series of adjournments because the prosecution consistently failed to produce a single witness to testify against him.

​The Moment of Victory

​The breakthrough finally came today when the defense team applied for the case to be struck out due to a lack of diligent prosecution. Recognizing the prosecution's failure to move the case forward, the court granted the prayer, effectively ending the young man's five-year ordeal.

​"Seeing our client walk out of the courtroom a free man today and reunite with his family after over five years of unjust detention gave us great joy," his lawyers shared in a moving statement. For many, this victory is bittersweet—a reminder of the "countless others" still caught in the web of an often unjust justice system.

​As this young man begins the difficult task of rebuilding a life interrupted at 17, his case remains a powerful symbol of the resilience of the human spirit and the ongoing struggle for true justice in Nigeria.

​Read also: "He Was My Classmate": Chief Obinna Accuses Minister Dave Umahi of N7 Million Debt.