Bauchi High Court dismisses case of Rhoda Jatau

A High Court in Bauchi State, Nigeria has dismissed the case against Mrs Rhoda Ya’u Jatau due to a lack of evidence. The Christian mother of five had been accused of sharing a video condemning the May 2022 murder of a Christian student in Sokoto State via WhatsApp.

Mrs Jatau, a civil servant who was a community health worker in Warji Local Government Area (LGA), Bauchi State, where she led a department, was arrested on 20 May 2022 after colleagues accused her of sharing a video in a work WhatsApp group of a Ghanaian Muslim who criticised the blasphemy-related lynching of Deborah Emmanuel by her fellow students in strong terms.

As news spread of Mrs Jatau’s arrest, a mob gathered to kill her and attacked the local Christian community when they could not locate her, injuring at least 13 people, including a pastor, and burning homes and businesses.

Mrs Jatau was transported furtively to the Bauchi State capital and held for two days by the police before being arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 1 Bauchi, which ordered that she should be held at the Bauchi Correctional Centre and referred her case to the High Court.

Mrs Jatau was charged under sections 114 and 210 of the State Penal Code, and Section 24 Subsection 1 b(i) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act of 2015, with inciting public disturbance, exciting the contempt of a religious creed and cyberstalking. An application for bail was refused on 11 October 2022, and Mrs Jatau was held in protective custody, with the authorities citing a risk of public disturbance for her continued detention. Her trial commenced in December 2022, and none of her accusers appeared at any hearings.

Mrs Jatau has consistently denied the charges levelled against her. However, on 26 November 2023, a ‘No Case Submission’ filed by her lawyer was rejected by the Bauchi High Court, and he was ordered to begin a defence at a hearing scheduled for 19 December 2023, further extending her time in custody.

However, on 8 December 2023, Mrs Jatau was released on bail following interventions by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and CSW-Nigeria, after spending 18 months in detention. For her safety she and her family were relocated to a neighbouring state to await the outcome of her trial, which has now ended in a dismissal due to lack of evidence.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘CSW welcomes the dismissal of the unsubstantiated charges against Mrs Jatau. We urge both the state and federal authorities to ensure that she is now able to enjoy her freedom without fear of further harassment. We remind the authorities of their outstanding obligation to secure justice for the family of Deborah Emmanuel, and also urge Nigeria not only to end the impunity currently enjoyed by those who weaponise blasphemy allegations to justify the taking of innocent lives, but also to bring state and federal laws and practices into conformity with the nation’s constitution and international norms and standards.’

Note to Editors:

1. On 4 August 2023 five UN Special Procedure mandate holders released a Letter of Allegation they had sent to the Government of Nigeria seeking clarifications on Mrs Jatau’s ongoing plight and Ms Emmanuel’s public lynching.