The Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), a coalition of Nigerian workers in Oyo State, has announced plans to picket Magistrate Court 6 in the Iyaganku area of Ibadan on Thursday. This demonstration aims to protest the trial of Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, commonly known as Abbey Trotsky, who is facing what the group describes as fabricated criminal charges.
Bamigboye is scheduled to appear in court to respond to four counts of alleged conspiracy to breach public peace, unlawful assembly, assault, and malicious damage. These charges have been filed against him by the Nigeria Police at the request of Sumal Food Limited, based in Ibadan.
SaharaReporters previously reported in 2023 that Bamigboye, who is also the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), had been an advocate for casual workers at Sumal Food, who were treated poorly and exploited in 2018. The CDWR argues that the authorities are using the police and judicial system to suppress his activism.
In a recent hearing, the Chief Magistrate assigned to the case denied Bamigboye the right to maintain his previous bail conditions, despite a request to do so. The police prosecutor confirmed to the court that Bamigboye had attended every session since the trial began in 2019. Nonetheless, the magistrate claimed that the previous bail bond was missing from the case file, asserting that the proceedings were starting “de novo,” or anew.
Following this, new bail conditions were imposed, but the magistrate refused to sign the bond, ordering Bamigboye to be remanded at Agodi prison instead. The magistrate cited the lack of clarity in the photocopy of the national ID provided by Bamigboye’s surety as the reason for the refusal.
However, after intervention from the Oyo State NLC Chairman and members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the bail bond was eventually approved.
On Wednesday, CDWR urged Nigerians to join the protest outside the court to stand against casualization and other exploitative labor practices in workplaces.
Human rights activist Francis Nwapa, a member of CDWR, stated, “Comrade Abbey Trotsky, the Oyo State coordinator of CDWR, will appear again at Magistrate Court 6, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Thursday. This hearing is related to the fabricated charges against him filed by the Nigeria Police at the request of Sumal Foods Ltd.”
Nwapa further explained that Bamigboye’s ongoing persecution stems from his and CDWR members’ involvement in a peaceful protest by contract and casual workers at Sumal Food on October 2 and 3, 2018. The protest aimed to address poor wages and working conditions.
He called on all concerned Nigerians to participate in the protest scheduled for October 31, 2024, to reaffirm their commitment to fighting against casualization and other indecent labor practices in workplaces.
For updates and more information, join our WhatsApp channel: WhatsApp Channel.