“None of the 15 prosecution witnesses proved they committed the offence,” lawyer Sadau Garba told AFP after Wednesday’s hearing, adding that the couple had been acquitted and “regained their freedom today.”
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Lead prosecutor Dari Bayero confirmed that the pair had been freed but said the state was planning to appeal.
“The court ruled that none of the witnesses we presented in court gave convincing proof that the duo was guilty,” Bayero said.
“This doesn’t mean they can’t be re-arraigned… we are certainly going to file charges against the duo at appeal.”
“This judgment has not only vindicated them and all members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, but it is certainly a victory for perseverance in the face of extreme persecution by the Nigerian government.”
The Guardian
