Citizen Gavel

05/10/2026

“I’m currently handling over 40 cases like this in court.

One of the reasons thousands of people remain in custody is the delay by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in filing the necessary information within the appropriate timeframe.”

— Our legal associate on how delays in filing charges leaves many stuck in custody for years, speaking on .

05/10/2026

Our Legal Associate, Taiwo Owoeye Esq. will be on News Central TV this morning to discuss arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, and our broader access to justice efforts in Nigeria.

📺 Tune in at 10AM.

01/10/2026

66 years on, and the gavel still beckons.

66 years on, and the nation keeps reaching for the promise of tomorrow.

May the Nigeria we dream of emerge, and may justice truly prevail.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! 🇳🇬

30/09/2026

WATCH:

What really happens inside Nigeria’s detention facilities?In this...

29/09/2026

It started with Opay. Now, itel. A worrying pattern is emerging on social media.

28/09/2026

We have finally secured the release of these two men who have been imprisoned since 2022; one arrested because he was wearing slippers similar to those of the complainant, and the other arrested by the police during a raid while he was hawking.

Their ordeal came to our attention in January 2024 during a visitation to the Medium Security Correctional Centre where our legal team in Lagos, interviewed them and discovered that, despite having been arrested since 2022, they had never been taken to court.

Our legal team took up their cases and began tracking the matter at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), eventually tracing the case to the court of Justice Coker.

It was not until March 2024 that we made our first appearance in the matter. From then on, we continued appearing before Justice Coker on more than seven occasions for trial and filed several applications urging the court to strike out the case despite all the adjournments and appearances, and the prosecution failing to produce a single witness.

Early in 2025, we were informed that Justice Coker was on official assignment and that the matter would be transferred to another court. Once again, our legal team began the painstaking process of tracking the case to determine where it had been transferred.
We eventually discovered that the matter had been transferred to the court of Justice Oshodi.

We appeared before Justice Oshodi for the first time in March 2025. The charges were read to the defendants, and both men pleaded NOT GUILTY.

At the close of the prosecution's case, we filed a No Case Submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring the defendants to answer.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for ruling.

Today, the wait is finally over. The Court delivered its ruling in our favour, upheld our No Case Submission, and consequently discharged and acquitted both men.

What makes this victory even more profound is that throughout this nearly four-year ordeal, not a single member of either defendant's family appeared in court. No other lawyer represented them. They endured years in custody largely unseen and unheard.

Today, they walk free 🧡

28/09/2026

Today, we celebrate our incredible Tech Lead, Darey Ayankoya, who always leads from the back.

The dedication you bring to work every day is admirable.

Cheers to another year of making а lasting impact through tech. Have a remarkable one!🎈🥳

18/09/2026

💔💔Dear and ,

It is rather unfortunate that it took this tragic incident to prompt action.

We reported a similar situation in Abuja about the deplorable conditions detainees were being subjected to at the NSCDC detention center just a month ago.

For over 3 years now, pursuant to Section 34 of the ACJA, alongside magistrates and CSOs, our team has visited detention facilities across selected states and we find it troubling that two out of three facilities are usually in conditions unfit for human beings.

While we acknowledge the call for the Commandant’s suspension, we must emphasise that this cannot end with suspension. That would be like treating the symptom without addressing the disease.

We urgently call for a thorough, independent audit of detention facilities across all security and law-enforcement agencies nationwide, with clear accountability and reforms where necessary.

Even those convicted of the worst crimes remain human beings and must be treated with dignity.

Our condolences to the families of the deceased. May justice always prevail.

18/09/2026

Happy Birthday to our Chairman, Board of Trustees Oluseun David Onigbinde

Today, we celebrate you, your visionary leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Your guidance continues to inspire and steer us towards greater heights.

We wish you a joyous celebration, good health, and many more impactful years.

Happy Birthday, Sir!