The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy has raised alarm over what it describes as the systematic use of Magistrate and Area Courts by the Kebbi State Government to target political opponents and suppress dissent.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Centre’s Head of Legal Services, Barrister Kalu Kalu Agu, accused the Kebbi authorities of weaponizing the judiciary and security apparatus to stifle freedom of expression and civic participation in the state.
Speaking alongside the African Democratic Congress Legal Support Forum, Agu revealed that over 20 individuals believed to be opposition voices have been unjustly jailed on what he termed “frivolous and politically motivated charges.”
Ibrahim Adamu Augie highlighted the cases: detained for releasing a video highlighting health issues in the state;, Mukhtar Dan Baturiya, arrested for voicing opinions perceived as anti-government;, and Ahmad Tijjani Musa and Ibrahim Bature, allegedly punished for their public commentary on governance.
“These arrests reflect a disturbing pattern of intimidation where state institutions are deployed to persecute citizens for merely expressing divergent views,” Agu said.
He described numerous instances of due process violations, including: Arrests without warrants, Denial of legal representation, Coerced confessions, and
Detentions beyond constitutionally allowed periods.
Agu further criticized the roles of Magistrates and Area Courts, accusing them of legitimizing state repression by accepting unmerited cases and delivering harsh sentences without proper legal scrutiny.
“Charges such as ‘public nuisance’, ‘inciting public disturbance’, and ‘defamation’ are routinely and wrongfully invoked to criminalize legitimate speech,” he stated.
The Centre and Forum claimed to possess credible evidence and testimonies from victims, some of whom have reportedly suffered psychological trauma, economic losses, and social stigma due to their unlawful detention.
They called for:
Immediate investigation into the conduct of Kebbi State Government, implicated judicial officers, and security agencies including the Nigeria Police and DSS,
Sanctions against law enforcement officers who acted beyond their legal authority,
Immediate release and compensation of all unjustly detained or convicted individuals, and
National and international monitoring of the human rights situation in Kebbi State to halt ongoing repression.
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“The weaponization of courts and law enforcement to crush dissent poses a grave threat not just to Kebbi State, but to Nigeria’s rule of law and democratic stability,” Agu warned.
The group’s petition is the latest in a growing outcry over shrinking civic space and rising political persecution across parts of Nigeria.
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