Impact Stories
Dare, from Ilaje in Ondo State, arrived in Lagos in February 2018 in search of better opportunities. He began working diligently as an apprentice at a mechanic workshop in Ikorodu. However, in July 2018, while heading to work, he was abruptly detained along with 32 other young men. At the police station, they were informed that they needed to arrange bail of N20,000 each. While some managed to secure their release, 26, including Dare, were charged with belonging to an unlawful society.
Though the court granted bail, Dare and the others were held at Ikoyi Correctional Center. Lacking any family support in Lagos, Dare was unable to meet the bail conditions.
In August 2018, during a prison outreach, Headfort Foundation’s Legal Aid Team took up Dare’s case. Our lawyer, who provided pro bono representation, argued that the charges were baseless and the prosecution had failed to present any witnesses. On November 21, 2018, the court agreed and dismissed the case, freeing Dare after five months of wrongful imprisonment.
