Court Sentences Youth to 15 Strokes of Public Caning 

A controversial sentencing at the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has sparked outrage after a young man was sentenced to 15 strokes of public caning without legal representation.

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who was present at the court, described the incident as “bizarre” and a violation of due process.

According to Sowore, the magistrate, Farida Ibrahim, handed down the corporal punishment based solely on police evidence, which claimed the youth had confessed to fighting with a sex worker.

“I just witnessed a bizarre sentence at the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse 6, Abuja. Magistrate Farida Ibrahim sentenced this youngster to 15 strokes of public caning… without a lawyer, based on police evidence that he confessed to fighting a prostitute!” Sowore wrote in a public statement.

As of press time, the identity of the convicted youth remains unknown, and efforts to reach court officials for comment have been unsuccessful.