The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) and the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) will today, Wednesday, stage a solidarity protest at Magistrate Court 6, Iyaganku Division, Ibadan, calling for an immediate end to the ongoing prosecution of socialist activist, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, popularly known as Abbey Trotsky.
In a statement released by YRC National Secretary, Francis Nwapa, the groups described the charges brought against Bamigboye as “trumped-up” and politically motivated, allegedly instigated by Sumal Food Limited through the Nigeria Police Force.
Bamigboye is facing four counts including conspiracy to breach public peace, unlawful assembly, assault, and malicious damage—charges the campaigners say stem from his role in supporting Sumal’s casual workers during their 2018 struggle for better wages and working conditions.
Nwapa stated the protest is not only to demand the dismissal of the charges but also to call attention to the alleged anti-labour practices at Sumal Food Limited, including casualisation of workers.
“Join us at Magistrate Court 6, Iyaganku Division, Ibadan by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, as we organise a solidarity action to demand an immediate dismissal of the trumped-up charges against Abbey Trotsky,” the statement read.
Bamigboye, who also serves as the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), has been entangled in a legal battle since 2019. In the most recent development, his case was reassigned to a new magistrate who, despite police confirmation of Bamigboye’s consistent court appearances, refused to uphold his previous bail conditions.
The magistrate claimed that the original bail documents were missing and declared the matter would start “de novo.” Despite fulfilling new bail conditions, Bamigboye was ordered to be remanded at Agodi Prison due to an allegedly unclear photocopy of a surety’s national ID.
His bail was only approved later that evening, following the intervention of the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), who also persuaded prison officials to delay his transfer.
Legal practitioners including Barristers Ola Adeosun, Kunle Adesina, Rashidat Adeshina, Bimpe Adelowo, Isaq Yusuf, and Emmanuel were among those who intervened in support of Bamigboye.
The protest is expected to draw labour rights activists, civil society members, and sympathisers who believe the prosecution is an attempt to intimidate and silence dissent.
