The authorities in Nigeria have arrested and charged 53 people for attending and participating in a gay wedding.
The accused persons were arrested on Saturday, April 15th, in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, according to Premium Times.
Prosecutors say the charges included conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and belonging to a gang of unlawful society.
On Wednesday, the group was brought before a Magistrate Court in Chediya-Zaria, Kaduna State, where they pleaded not guilty.
Homosexuality and other same-sex relations are largely frowned upon in Africa, and it is a criminal offense in Nigeria.
Lead prosecutor Mannir Nasir said the arrested persons were guilty of contravening Sections 97, 100, and 197(a) of criminal procedure code. He added that officers moved in to arrest the group after a tip-off indicated that a gay marriage was taking place between Faruk and Sanusi at a motel in Zaria.
Yunusa Umar, a lawyer representing the accused, said the defendants — many of them students — had been held in police detention beyond the maximum 24-hour period.
The presiding magistrate reportedly granted the accused bail with the sum of N500,000 each, with one surety each in the like sum who must be a blood relation to the accused.
He also ordered that each surety must present two passport size photographs, a valid identity card, bank account number, letter of credence from a traditional ruler, a 2015 utility bill, and a valid mobile phone number.
The case has been adjourned until May 8th for further hearing.
Criminal Behavior
In 2014, then-Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a bill criminalizing same-sex relationships, which prescribes penalties of up to 14 years in jail for offenders.
The law also stipulates that “any person who registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organisations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison.”
Activists and rights groups say the Nigerian law is an affront to human liberty, the right to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
They say besides the lengthy prison sentences gay persons face for their sexual orientations, there is also the more insidious risk of a public lynching by irate mobs on anyone suspected of having same-sex sympathies while the authorities stand aside and watch.
Manika Gamble recently made history as the first Black woman to complete a 155-mile, seven-day…
Meet Tiffany Rose Dean; she is the founder of Hollywood Hair Bar, a $45 million…
Lil Baby's music video shoot was marred by gunshots on Tuesday evening, leading to three…
Micaela Varlack is extremely upset that her daughter's hair was changed without her consent by…
Nelson Shardey, a retired 74-year-old Ghanaian man who has resided in the UK for nearly…
Tunji Balogun runs the iconic Def Jam record label. He took charge of the company…
Mary J. Blige has taken the footwear market by storm following the release of her…
Authorities in Georgia said a man fatally choked his girlfriend and the mother of his…
Gorrety Akinyi, a 17-year-old from Nairobi, Kenya, is thriving in a community ballet program despite…
An assistant principal in Alabama has been arrested and charged in connection with a triple…
Whoopi Goldberg made her feelings known to Donald Trump after the former president took to…
For Mother's Day, NFL rookie 'Kool-Aid' McKinstry decided to fill her mom’s world with joy…
The National Small Business Week awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., selected Iam C. Tucker of…
Chrishalea Farley, a 39-year-old Instacart driver from McDonough, Georgia, has become an internet sensation after…
When Jennifer Flewellen woke up from a five-year coma in August 2022, her son Daeton,…
View Comments
silly savages-now wonder Africa is mostly a third world cesspool! Stop mindlessly following the white man's god, guys!
Thanks to Scott Lively for bringing American style hate to Nigeria and Uganda.
If they're dumb enough to listen to him.....(but they never were of great intellect there..)
The government is and passes laws that follow his BS.