NIGERIAN WITCH-HUNT CASE THROWN OUT OF COURT
Lagos
Leftists here are celebrating another court victory following the recent release of Dr. Victor Allen.* The case involved Celestine Bassoong who was charged with being a member of the UPC [Union des Populations du Cameroun], Ataturk Ananaba, the first secretary of the Nigerian Labour party, and Eskor Toyo. They were charged with running an unlawful society (the UPC) for the sole aim of overthrowing the government of Cameroun.
When the case came up, the public expected that as evidence of the plot the police would at least refer to bombs, rifles and similar equipment. There was much laughter when the exhibits turned out to be ordinary ink, starch, soap and other household equipment plus two or three letters,
The magistrate decided that the police had failed to prove © the case they had alleged and that even if Celestine Bassoong was a member of the UPC it was natural for him to receive mail and to possess documents of the party.
The case was thus thrown out of court.
*Dr, Allen was ordered released April 15, His fellow defendants, Jonas Abam, Olushegun Adebayo and Sidi Khayam were scheduled to be released May 27. They were convicted November 10 along with Dr, Allen on charges of subversion and sentenced to one year in prison. at hard labor.