A Nigerian defendant who recently suffered a stroke appeared in court on Thursday, where his legal counsel submitted applications challenging elements of the charges and requesting bail on health-related grounds.
Defence lawyer Ibrahim Angulu filed two motions before the court: one contesting what he described as duplicative counts in the charge sheet, and another seeking bail for the first defendant. Addressing the court, Angulu argued that his client’s medical condition warranted consideration.
“As the court can see, the first defendant has suffered a stroke. We are asking, on compassionate grounds, that he be allowed to receive treatment in a hospital rather than remain in prison,” Angulu said.
The proceedings are taking place during ongoing diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States concerning religious freedom issues.
The case coincides with meetings of a joint working group established after the United States designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under its religious freedom framework. The designation reflects U.S. concerns regarding violence affecting Christian communities.
Nigerian officials have rejected the characterization of the violence as being primarily religiously motivated. They have argued that insecurity in the country stems from broader challenges, including armed groups operating in various regions, and affects multiple religious communities.
Following discussions in January, U.S. State Department official Allison Hooker stated that Nigeria should strengthen efforts to protect Christian populations. Public remarks did not reference Muslim victims of violence.
The diplomatic engagement occurs amid differing perspectives between the two countries. President Bola Tinubu has sought to expand security cooperation with the United States, including military collaboration in regions affected by armed groups and training initiatives involving U.S. personnel.
However, some U.S. lawmakers have expressed reservations about Nigeria’s approach to addressing violence. Representative Chris Smith has publicly criticized Nigerian authorities, alleging insufficient acknowledgment of the scale and nature of attacks. He recently declined an invitation to attend an event hosted by First Lady Remi Tinubu, stating that he did not wish to participate in what he described as a symbolic engagement.
