BAUCHI WOMAN RELEASED AFTER 19 MONTHS IN PRISON OVER BLASPHEMY
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Rhoda Jatau, a Bauchi woman who denounced the purported execution of Samuel Deborah in Sokoto State, has at last been liberated from an approximately two-year prison sentence for blasphemy in Bauchi State.
Following an intervention by family members, religious institutions, and civil society organisations, she was granted bail on Friday and was reunited with her family.
Her husband, who has declined to comment on the matter and has temporarily barred journalists from seeing her, has verified her bond.
It was learned that Justice Fatima Jibrin of a high court in Bauchi heard her bail application, which was submitted by her attorney, Joseph Danboyi, and approved it.
Sources say that Rhoda departed Bauchi for Gombe State as soon as she was freed.
The international rights organisation Peace Building and Social Justice stated on its X platform that Jatau had been imprisoned for 19 months for denouncing the killing of Deborah Samuel, a young schoolgirl, on the grounds of blasphemy. She is a mother of five children and a Christian.
“Rhoda’s next hearing is still scheduled for December 19, 2023; we need to raise our voices and demand her unconditional release,” the group added.
The Nigerian Police Force allegedly picked up Jatau on May 20, 2022, at her residence on charges of inciting public disturbance and incitement. This information was disclosed in a statement released by the Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development, Bauchi, just before her release.
CITAD claims that the woman was repeatedly refused bail.
“The Police action was based on their perception of what her message could do. However, immediately after sharing the post, she was arrested and taken into custody.
“Her bail was consistently denied, and she has been held behind bars ever since. This is not just an injustice to Rhoda; it is an attack on the digital rights of every citizen in this country,” it stated.
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