Impact Stories
Uyi is a single father from Edo State and he is 41 years old. He came to Lagos in 2002 to seek greener pastures for himself and his child. He is a truck driver. As a truck driver, Uyi drives to deliver goods to various customers around Lagos as well as outside Lagos State. Sometime in February 2020, Uyi set for his activity of the day to pick his truck when he was accosted by some people for being among those who came to rob in a particular street and was taken to the station. Uyi, before getting to the station and while at the station kept saying he was not among those who came to rob but was on his way to pick his truck and go about his business, as he is a truck driver but all explanations met a brick wall. Arriving at the station, the police officers kept him at the cell and took his statement before he was charged to Court for Stealing. On arraignment on the 17th day of February 2020, he had no lawyer as he could not afford one, the court granted him bail but he could not perfect his bail conditions. The matter was adjourned severally as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the strike embarked on by the Judiciary workers. On the 26th of January 2021, Uyi met one of the Lawyers at Headfort Foundation stationed at the Ogba Magistrate Court (one of the Mobile Offices of our “Lawyers Without Border” Project) and his brief was taken. Our lawyer carried out a due diligence on the matter in court and ensured that a date was given for the hearing of the matter. On the 29th day of July 2021, our lawyer represented Uyi in court, there was no witness or complainant in court and on this ground our lawyer prayed the court to strike out the charges against him for want of diligent prosecution and the Court granted our application on the ground that since the arraignment of Uyi in court, the prosecution has not been diligent in prosecuting the case while Uyi remained in custody. Uyi spent One year and 5 months in the Correctional Centre before he was discharged.
