By Libby George
LAGOS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A closely-watched trial of 47
Nigerian men charged with public displays of affection with
members of the same sex, seen as a test of a law criminalising
homosexuality, was delayed for a third time on Wednesday after a
lead witness did not appear.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa at the Lagos court warned prosecutors
that the adjournment, to March 3, would be the last he granted
them. The case was previously adjourned twice after the
prosecution failed to produce witnesses.
Homosexuality is outlawed in many socially conservative
African societies where some religious groups brand it a
corrupting Western import.
On Tuesday, the prosecution opened its case by producing a
police inspector witness who shared only his name, rank and that
he knew the defendants from "anti-cultism" work. The lead witness was due to appear on Wednesday but
Prosecutor Joseph Eboseremen said the witness had not received a
court summons on time.
The men, who face a 10-year jail term if convicted, were
arrested in an August 2018 police raid on a Lagos hotel. Police
said they were being "initiated" into a gay club, but the men
said they were attending a birthday party.
Police paraded the accused in front of journalists at a
press conference held by the state police commissioner the day
after the raid.
The men pleaded not guilty to the charge last November, and
said the prolonged case is causing financial and emotional
distress. "It's affecting my life, it's affecting my work," defendant
Onyeka Oghuaghamba, 43, told Reuters, adding: "I am not coping."
He said he had been forced to take out loans to support his
four children and wife because the appearances forced him to
skip his work as a long-haul driver. Still, he said he had faith
in the court.
"I want to prove that my hand is clean," he said.
The trial is a test case for a law banning gay marriage,
punishable by a 14-year jail term, and same-sex "amorous
relationships". It caused international outcry when it came into
force under former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
Nobody has yet been convicted under the law, prosecution and
defence lawyers in the case told Reuters.
But Human Rights Watch and other activists say it has been
used to extort bribes from suspects in exchange for not pursuing
charges.