Gay rights activists in Nigeria were delighted to hear that two individuals recently accused of conducting a same-sex marriage have been released on bail. The two men had been detained since their arrests four months ago, and had faced a potential 14-year jail sentence.
The two men, identified only as Adebayo and Bidemi, were initially arrested in April after attending a wedding reception for two members of the LGBT+ community in Lisa, Nigeria. Police allegedly broke up the gathering and arrested both men, who were later charged under Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act.
The arrest evoked widespread international outcry from the LGBT+ community, who argued that the charges were unjustified and driven by prejudice. In Nigeria, LGBT+ rights are poorly protected, and same-sex relationships are still criminalized.
Speaking to press, Humphrey Ogbite, the lawyer for the two men, confirmed that both had been granted bail on July 8th. “We are happy that the court found they were innocent and set them free,” he said. “The charges against them were ridiculous and driven only by prejudice and hatred.”
The bail hearings concluded on July 8th, with the high court releasing both men, granting them a conditional release. Ogbite confirmed that the two men were free to return to their homes and communities.
Prior to the hearing, international pressure had been mounting on Nigeria to drop the charges against Adebayo and Bidemi. LGBT+ activists across the world expressed their outrage over the continued criminalization of same-sex relationships in Nigeria.
The ruling has been welcomed as a sign of progress in the fight for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria. Humphrey Ogbite expressed his hope that the ruling would set a precedent for future cases, saying: “We hope this decision will be a wake-up call for the Nigerian government to take action and end the discrimination and persecution of the LGBT+ community in Nigeria.”
