Case History: Jelili Atiku
On 18 July 2016, the Ejibgo Magistrate Court struck down all charges against human rights defender and artist Jelili Atiku. The Court came to this decision after the prosecution and the defense reached an amicable solution through the ‘African community dispute resolution method’, according to CORA/Arterial Network.
Jelili Atiku was arrested on 18 January 2016 on charges of disturbing the peace of the community, intimidating the public, distributing publications likely to provoke the community, and managing an unlawful society. The charges were related to a performance called Aragamago Will Rid This Land of Terrorism.
Jelili Atiku is a Nigerian artist and human rights defender. He works to promote freedom of expression through art and to develop creative and thought-provoking ways of discussing human rights. He is also a member of the Committee for Relevant Art and Nigeria ARTerial Network – CORA/Arterial Network, which unites individuals, organisations, donors, companies and institutions engaged in the African creative and cultural sector. The human rights defender has focused his work on denouncing human rights violations committed by the government and commenting on the situation of political prisoners in Nigeria. His work has also dealt with politically motivated persecution of opponents of the regime, and the atrocities committed by Boko Haram.
On 18 July 2016, the Ejibgo Magistrate Court struck down all charges against human rights defender and artist Jelili Atiku. The Court came to this decision after the prosecution and the defense reached an amicable solution through the ‘African community dispute resolution method’, according to CORA/Arterial Network.
Jelili Atiku was arrested on 18 January 2016 on charges of disturbing the peace of the community, intimidating the public, distributing publications likely to provoke the community, and managing an unlawful society. The charges were related to a performance called Aragamago Will Rid This Land of Terrorism.
On 27 June 2016, at the Magistrate Court of Ejibo, the trial of human rights defender Jelili Atiku was adjourned for a fifth time by the presiding magistrate in order that the defense and the prosecution might explore an amicable resolution of the case. The human rights defender was arrested on 18 January 2016 on charges of disturbing the peace of the community, intimidating the public, distributing publications likely to provoke the community and managing an unlawful society. The charges were related to a performance called Aragamago Will Rid This Land of Terrorism.
Jelili Atiku is a Nigerian artist and human rights defender. He works to promote freedom of expression through art and to develop creative and thought-provoking ways of discussing human rights. He is also a member of the Committee for Relevant Art and Nigeria ARTerial Network – CORA/Arterial Network, which unites individuals, organizations, donors, companies and institutions engaged in the African creative and cultural sector. The human rights defender works to highlight corruption and the need for good governance in Nigeria. He has monitored and denounced human rights violations committed by the government.
During the proceeding on 27 June 2016, the defense counsel noted two significant irregularities in the process, namely that the record of proceedings had not been made available, and that two of the three witnesses for the prosecution were absent from the hearing. Previously, on 25 April 2016, the defense counsel had requested the record of proceedings, and the magistrate had adjourned the hearing to 27 June 2016 in order that the record be prepared by the registrar.
After briefly reviewing the case, the magistrate gathered the prosecution and defense teams and invited them to meet to consider an amicable solution of the case at 1 pm that day, following the hearing. The magistrate granted until 18 July for such a resolution to be agreed upon.
Front Line Defenders calls upon the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against him and ensure that the human rights defender is able to conduct his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions. Furthermore, Front Line Defenders calls on the Nigerian authorities to guarantee an environment where all human rights defenders are able to undertake their legitimate, peaceful work.
On 1 February 2016, the Magistrate's Court of Ejigbo initiated judicial proceedings against human rights defender and artist Mr Jelili Atiku and adjourned his trial to 7 March 2016. He was arrested on 18 January 2016 and accused of conspiring to cause public disturbance.
Jelili Atiku was arrested on 18 January 2016 and released on bail on 20 January 2016 after being accused, along with four other individuals, of conspiring “to commit felony to wit public disturbance” under section 409 of the Criminal Code. The allegations relate to a performance called Aragamago Will Rid This Land off Terrorism, that took place on 14 January 2016. In the performance, the human rights defender denounced state terrorism, the usurpation of land and appropriation of cultural patrimony by Ejigbo's authorities.
Jelili Atiku and his family members have previously been subjected to other forms of harassment. On 18 December 2015 nine policemen went to the human rights defender's residence in his absence and threatened his family members with arrest. Prior to that, on 30 December 2014, five traditional chiefs from the Palace of the King of Ejigbo went to the human rights defender's house and destroyed his artwork and ransacked his room in a clear attempt to intimidate him and censure his art. Both incidents were reported to the Nigerian police, however, no attempts to investigate the facts nor protect Jelili Atiku and his family were made.
