The Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the release of Rhoda Jatau, a Nigerian woman who is standing trial in Bauchi State for outrightly condemning the killers of Deborah Samuel.
What is even more painful to Sowore is the fact that the killers of Deborah continue to enjoy freedom while Jatau who was only demanding justice languishes in prison.
Jatau was arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in May 2022.
She was arrested for condemning the lynching of the Christian female student of Sokoto College, Deborah Samuel accused of blasphemy by Islamic fanatics in Sokoto.
She is facing charges of inciting public disturbance, exciting contempt of religious creed, and cyberstalking.
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The prosecution had since closed its case, but the defence’s attempt to present its no-case argument was repeatedly stalled.
This was as the presiding judge deferred court dates and the trial experienced a prolonged timeline.
No-case Argument
However, the Bauchi State High Court’s ruling on Monday threw out the no-case submission of Jatau.
This came after 18 months in detention.
The no-case submission meant that the court affirmed the legal standing of the authorities to argue the charges brought against Jatau even though it is substantiated with scant evidence.
Sowore Speaks
In a post via Twitter on Wednesday, Sowore called for the release of Jatau.
He insisted that there is no basis for persecuting her when nothing has been done to the murderers of Deborah.
He wrote, “The Bauchi government must free Rhoda Jatau immediately.
There is no basis for persecuting her.
It is bad enough that nothing was done to punish the murderers of Deborah Samuel.
Nigeria must stop these violations with urgency. #FreeRhodaJatau NOW! Free all Nigerians being prosecuted for and unjustly jailed for blasphemy.”
