Impact Stories
Kehinde and Shola, young conductors working hard in the Ilasa Maja area of Lagos, were dedicated to supporting their families. Despite it being Christmas Day, they went out to work, needing the income to help their families during the festive season. However, their routine day took a dark turn when the Nigerian Police Force raided their area, arresting over twenty people in a sweep they claimed was targeting thieves hiding in the vicinity. Tragically, Kehinde and Shola were among those wrongfully detained.
At the police station, they were unable to meet the officers’ demands and ended up spending several days in detention. After five days, they were charged with stealing an MP3 player and a phone. Despite being granted bail, they were remanded at Ikoyi Correctional Centre due to their inability to afford bail or legal representation.
As weeks went by, Kehinde and Shola felt trapped, unable to find help or resources to fight their charges. However, their luck changed when they learned that pro bono lawyers from Headfort Foundation were visiting the Correctional Centre. Desperate for assistance, they met with the team, who took on their case and provided legal representation.
On February 26, 2020, the court granted the lawyer’s application to dismiss the case, ruling that the charges were unfounded and that the prosecution had no witnesses to support their claims. Kehinde and Shola were finally discharged after spending two months in prison, thanks to the dedicated advocacy and support they received.
