Spaces for Change hails acquittal of Emmanuel Acha, condemns abuse of state power

Stanley Ihedigbo

High Court on Monday, December 16, 2025, discharged and acquitted Comrade Emmanuel Acha of all charges after more than 200 days in detention awaiting trial, marking a major victory for civic space and human rights advocacy in Nigeria.

Comrade Acha had been arraigned on allegations of unlawful possession of firearms and fueling communal clashes—charges widely described by rights groups as trumped-up and intended to silence his lawful activism.

The court’s decision brings an end to what civil society organisations have condemned as a Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP).

According to Spaces for Change (S4C), the charges stemmed from Comrade Acha’s decision to legally challenge the Ebonyi State Government over its handling of the protracted Effium–Ezza land dispute.

Rather than addressing the substantive issues raised in court, state authorities allegedly resorted to the use of criminal prosecution as a tool to intimidate and suppress dissent.

The organisation described the prolonged detention of Comrade Acha as a troubling example of how state actors continue to weaponize laws and institutions to shrink civic space and undermine citizens’ constitutional rights to free expression and public participation.

“This case represents a dangerous precedent where legitimate civic engagement is met with repression,” Spaces for Change said in a statement following the judgment.

The acquittal follows months of sustained advocacy by Spaces for Change and members of the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS), who consistently drew national and international attention to Comrade Acha’s plight.

Their campaign highlighted concerns about the misuse of security agencies and the justice system to harass activists and human rights defenders.

Spaces for Change expressed deep appreciation to the legal team led by Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN, alongside its in-house legal officers, whose collective efforts were instrumental in securing the acquittal. The organisation also acknowledged the unwavering support of members of the AGFCS in defending civic freedoms and demanding accountability.

Special gratitude was extended to the Funds for Global Human Rights (FGHR) for its generous support throughout the advocacy process.

While celebrating the court’s decision, Spaces for Change reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that state laws and institutions are deployed to expand, rather than restrict, the exercise of civil and political rights.

The organisation called on government authorities across the country to respect the rule of law and desist from using prosecution and prolonged detention as tools to silence critics, stressing that a vibrant civic space remains essential to democracy, justice, and sustainable peace.