An Abuja High Court has denied bail to a mother and her baby held since March over a #FreePalestine protest, citing “orders from above.”
An Abuja High Court has refused to grant bail to a nursing mother and her eight-month-old baby detained at Suleja Prison since March 2025 after their arrest during a #FreePalestine protest.
Justice C.O. Agasheze of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court declined the bail application on Thursday, citing “orders from above.” A witness at the hearing said the judge explained that the remand order had been signed by a superior court and could only be reversed by the Chief Judge.
The detainee’s husband, Misbau, confirmed the development, lamenting that his wife and child have been held without trial for five months. “They have been there for five months now without trial. My wife and our baby are very sick,” he said.
Rights activists have condemned the detention as unconstitutional and politically motivated, raising concerns about judicial independence and human rights violations under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.