[size=14pt]Court frees Nigerien after 10 years without trial[/size]
Written by  Ade Adesomoju

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has ordered the unconditional release of a citizen of the Republic of Niger, Mamman Keita, who has been in custody without arraignment for more than 10 years.

Justice Habeeb Abiru, in a judgment delivered on Friday, also ordered the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police of the state to pay him N7m as damages as well as tender a public apology to him.

Abiru said, “It is hereby declared that the continuous remand of the Applicant (Keita) in prison for a period over 10 years without proper arraignment and trial in a court of competent jurisdiction is unlawful and unconstitutional and constitutes an unbridled violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of his person, personal liberty and freedom of movement.

“The applicant is awarded the sum of N7m damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the unlawful remand of the applicant in prison for a period of 10 years.”

Forty-three-year-old Keita was charged with manslaughter at Magistrates’ Court Six, Ebute Metta, on July 23, 2001, for remand proceeding.

Keita’s counsel, Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, had sought the enforcement of fundamental human rights of his client through a motion on notice dated October 24, 2011.

Though the court granted N7m as damages, Adetola-Kazeem had among other prayers granted by the court, asked that his client be compensated with N100m.

Abiru noted that the records of the court showed that the application was served on the two respondents – the Commissioner of Police of the Lagos State Command and the state’s Attorney-General – but that neither of them filed any formal responses.

http://www.punchng.com/index.php/news/item/8146-court-frees-nigerien-after-10-years-without-trial

10 years without trial!!!!

hell hole called country!

Thats because he is an illegal alien in Nigeria.

Hrm. Despite being an alien, holding a man for a decade w/o any trial seems very wrong.

They should pay him his damages and then deport him.

I'm surprised the Niger Republic didn't try to help him out.

our prisons are full of people like Mr Kieta

oyb:

our prisons are full of people like Mr Kieta 

Sad truth.

Hw deserves more than 7 million.