Outrage as Abuja Court Sentences Young Man to Public Flogging over Altercation with Commercial Sex Worker [VIDEO]

 

A controversial judgment delivered on Wednesday by Magistrate Farida Ibrahim of the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has sparked nationwide concern among legal professionals and human rights advocates. A young man, yet to be formally identified, was sentenced to receive 15 strokes of the cane in public after reportedly engaging in a scuffle with a commercial sex worker.

The ruling, described by observers as rare and unsettling, was handed down without the presence of legal counsel for the defendant. Court proceedings relied solely on a police report and an alleged confession made by the young man during interrogation. No additional witnesses were called, and no independent evidence was introduced to substantiate the police's claims.

Magistrate Ibrahim declared that the altercation constituted a public disturbance, justifying corporal punishment. The young man was said to have admitted to fighting with the woman, leading the police to arrest and charge him. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the events that led to the confrontation, the court moved swiftly to sentence him.

Legal practitioners argue that the case raises serious questions about due process, access to justice, and constitutional rights. Human rights lawyers note that the absence of a defense attorney alone should have prompted the court to exercise caution before handing down such a punitive measure.

Public flogging, while still practiced in some local jurisdictions in Nigeria, remains deeply controversial. Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly states: “No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.” Many interpret corporal punishment in public as a direct violation of this provision, particularly when imposed in a setting where the defendant lacks legal protection.

What further complicates this scenario is the lack of clarity surrounding the nature of the altercation. Neither the specifics of the disagreement nor the testimony of the alleged victim was made available during the trial. Critics suggest that the case illustrates broader systemic issues in Nigeria's lower courts, including the frequent disregard for legal representation and the overreliance on police narratives.

The punishment mirrors an earlier controversial sentencing in 2022 in Kano State, where two social media influencers, known as TikTokers, were convicted of defaming then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Senior Magistrate Aminu Gabari sentenced the pair to 20 strokes of the cane and 30 days of community service after they posted a satirical video criticizing the governor. The judgment also required them to make a public apology and pay a fine of N20,000 each.

That ruling drew heavy backlash from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, which labeled the punishment degrading and unconstitutional. Similar condemnation is now building over the Abuja case, with several advocacy groups calling for a review of the flogging sentence.

Many lawyers say the broader issue lies in the judicial culture that permits such punishments to be delivered with limited oversight and virtually no accountability. For them, the use of flogging—especially when carried out within court premises—is a chilling throwback to practices that should have been abolished long ago.

Beyond the immediate legal implications, the case also ignites conversation around social justice and the vulnerability of Nigeria’s most marginalized citizens. That the defendant was accused of fighting a sex worker, a demographic that is already socially and legally marginalized, adds a layer of complexity to the discourse. Neither the circumstances of the fight nor the well-being of the woman involved has been officially addressed.

Calls are now mounting for the judiciary to adopt reforms that emphasize rights-based justice. Civil society organizations have urged the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate the circumstances of the judgment and provide the young man with pro bono legal assistance. Meanwhile, public outcry on social media continues to gain traction, with users describing the punishment as “barbaric,” “medieval,” and “unfit for a democracy.”

Without a formal appeal or intervention from higher judicial authorities, the sentence may stand as a disturbing precedent. The broader question remains: can the Nigerian legal system protect the rights of its most vulnerable citizens when foundational safeguards such as legal representation and procedural fairness are routinely ignored?

As national and international observers keep a close watch, this case may become a landmark moment in the ongoing battle between authoritarian judicial practices and the push for a more humane, constitutionally compliant justice system.

WACH: Abuja Magistrate Court Judge Sentences Young Man To Public Flogging For Fighting A Prostitute. pic.twitter.com/6vcx8ajpjL

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 18, 2025