The legal aid non-governmental organisation, Hope Behind Bars Africa, has raised serious concerns over recent mass arrests in Benin City after successfully securing bail for a group of young men facing charges of murder, cultism, and promoting armed attacks.
In a court appearance on Tuesday, a legal team from the NGO challenged the remand application for several men arrested on May 11, 2025, near 3rd East Circular Road. The lawyers argued that the charges brought against the suspects were fundamentally flawed and lacked any substantive evidence.
According to a lawyer from the organisation, the prosecution’s case suffered from numerous critical omissions, which were presented to the court, the identity of the alleged murder victim was not provided, the specific time and location of the alleged murder were not mentioned in the charge, No witness statements identifying the suspects or detailing the alleged crimes were submitted, No residents came forward to report any attacks as alleged, The suspects had not made any confessional statements and No incriminating items were recovered from any of the individuals.
The defence team further stated that the suspects reported being randomly arrested at different locations across Benin City before being charged together.
“We presented these facts before the court and urged for their bail or unconditional release,” the NGO’s representative stated. “The Court agreed with our position and granted them bail.”
This court victory is part of a broader effort by Hope Behind Bars Africa to address the consequences of ongoing police raids in the city. The organisation revealed it is also handling the cases of other suspects currently held at Oko Prison in Benin City, who were arrested under similar circumstances. The group believes a majority of those detained may be innocent.
Following the successful bail application, calls have been made for the Edo State Police Command to review the procedures and basis for the recent wave of arrests.
Hope Behind Bars Africa is encouraging any residents of Benin City who have experienced similar issues to contact their team for legal assistance. The organisation also acknowledged the contributions of lawyers Haruna Aje and Theophilus Umoru for their assistance in court.
