Kaduna, 26 January, 2022 / 11:20 am (ACI Africa).
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based human rights foundation, has described the adjourning of the hearing of Luka Binniyat, a journalist who was arrested in Nigeria’s Kaduna State for criticizing the government’s inadequate response to a past attack in the State as “punitive adjournment.”
The foundation reported that Mr. Binniyat’s hearing, which had been slated to commence on Monday, January 24, had been moved to January 27 January owing to failure by the presiding judge to attend the court session.
In a Tuesday, January 25 report, CSW President Mervyn Thomas describes the detainment of Mr. Binniyat who served as spokesperson for the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) as lengthy and called upon authorities in the Nigerian State to ensure that due process is observed in the journalist’s trial.
“While it is disappointing to learn of yet another delay in court proceedings, we note that in contrast with previous occasions, there has not been an excessively lengthy and seemingly punitive adjournment,” Mr. Mervyn says.
He adds, “We urge the Kaduna state authorities to ensure due process is observed once Mr. Binniyat’s trial is underway.”