No defence was entered by the authorities. The judge has adjourned provisionally until 10 December for judgement.
Leader of the humanist movement in Nigeria and human rights advocate, Mubarak Bala has been detained without charge in Kano state for 174 days in connection with a Facebook post.
Humanists International continues to call on the authorities to guarantee Bala’s fundamental rights: Bala must have unimpeded access to his lawyers; he should be charged with a crime or released; if charged, he should be transferred to a neutral territory in order to ensure his right to a fair trial.
James Ibor, lead lawyer for Mubarak Bala
Speaking after the hearing, the lead lawyer for the Free Mubarak Bala campaign, James Ibor, said:
“Our hope is rekindled and we are optimistic that justice will be served.”
Humanists International believes that Mubarak Bala is being targeted for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and religion or belief, and calls for the case against him to be dropped, for Bala to be granted unimpeded access to his legal advisers; he should be charged with a crime or released; if charged, he should be transferred to a neutral territory in order to ensure his right to a fair trial.
To learn more about Bala’s case, see: