Lagos teen detained over slippers freed after four years

In 2022, a teenager in Lagos was detained after being arrested for allegedly wearing slippers similar to those of a complainant. Despite spending nearly four years in custody, the teenager and another man went unnoticed by the legal system. In January 2024, the non-governmental organization Citizens Gavel discovered the case while visiting the Medium Security Correctional Centre.

Citizens Gavel took up the case and successfully advocated for the defendants, who never appeared in court despite being arrested in 2022. The organization argued that the prosecution presented no evidence, and after multiple adjournments, the charges were dismissed, leading to the defendants' acquittal.