The federal high court in Lagos, on Tuesday, dismissed a case against James Brown, a popular Nigerian crossdresser, and 46 other men charged with the alleged public display of affection with members of same-sex.

Advertisement

The men were arrested in a 2018 raid on a hotel in Egbeda. The police had said they were being initiated into a gay club but the defendants denied the claim, adding that they were attending a birthday party.

According to Reuters, the case was dismissed after prosecutors failed to attend the hearing at the high court, having previously failed to present some of their witnesses for the hearing that had been adjourned on several occasions.

The charges brought against the defendants carried a 10-year prison sentence.

Advertisement

Rilwan Aikawa, the judge who presided over the case, however, said he dismissed the case due to the “lack of diligent prosecution”.

In reaction to the dismissal as the defendants proceeded out of the high court, Brown could be heard saying: “I’m free. I’m free to travel around the country. Yeah. It means a lot of good things. I’m very free.”

A Nigerian law that bans gay marriage and same-sex amorous relationships had stirred public outcry when it came into force under the former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

Advertisement

However, no offender is known to have been convicted under it, which led to the case being widely seen as a test.



Copyright 2024 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.

Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle