The Magistrate Court of Runjin Sambo in Sokoto is expected to pull a heavy crowd as the trial of a university lecturer, Dr Abubakar Alkali continues on charges over his alleged role in the recent nationwide hunger protests.
Dr Alkali was arrested from Abuja by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegation of supporting the Sokoto end of the recent #EndBadGovernance protest, which rocked parts of the country last August.
The 10-day nationwide anti-hunger and hardship protest took place between August 1 and 10, even though the mass action in Sokoto did not last that long.
Dr Alkali is facing a three count charge of criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace and mischief and he has been in detention without bail at the Sokoto Central Prison for almost one month, since his transfer on arrest from Abuja.
Civil society and human rights groups within and outside Sokoto State say they are watching the case closely, with a view to ensuring that the accused lecturer gets justice, amidst fears that the Sokoto State Government has vested interest in his prosecution.
Presently, over 100 people, most of them youths, are in detention in Sokoto in connection with the protests, allegedly on the orders of the Sokoto State Government.
