# Nigeria Journalist Granted Bail After Court Sets Aside Conviction

> Nigeria's Farida Isiak, a 23-year-old journalist, gets bail after court voids her conviction for criticizing police over charcoal dispute.
- Title: Nigeria Journalist Granted Bail After Court Sets Aside…
- Summary: Nigeria's Farida Isiak, a 23-year-old journalist, gets bail after court voids her conviction for criticizing police over charcoal dispute. Farida Isiak, a…
- Keywords: nigeria, kaduna, farida isiak, journalist, bail, conviction, charcoal, police, facebook, sharia court, defamation, news
- Source: Allafrica — https://allafrica.com/stories/202610220217.html
- Published: 2026-10-22T09:49:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nigeria, kaduna, farida isiak, journalist, bail, conviction, charcoal, police, facebook, sharia court, defamation, news
## Farida Isiak Granted Bail
Farida Isiak, a 23-year-old journalist detained in Kaduna State, was granted bail after a court set aside her conviction.

> Farida Isiak, a 23-year-old journalist detained alongside her parents following a dispute over the sale of charcoal in Kaduna State, has been granted bail after a court set aside her conviction and allowed her to enter a fresh plea.
## Court Sets Aside Conviction
A court voided Farida Isiak's four-year prison sentence or N1.75 million fine after her counsel challenged the proceedings.

> The judge, Aliyu Adamu, subsequently sentenced her to four years' imprisonment or a fine of N1.750 million naira.
## Police Detained Journalist
Police detained Farida Isiak on 20 October after she published a Facebook post criticizing police over her parents' arrest.

> PREMIUM TIMES reported that Usman Adamu, the divisional police officer (DPO) of Mararaban Jos in Kaduna State, detained the young journalist on 20 October after she published a Facebook post criticising the police over the arrest and detention of her parents following a dispute between her mother and a neighbour over N100 change from a charcoal sale.
## Amnesty Condemns Arrest
Amnesty International Nigeria called the arrest and initial sentencing 'vindictive' and accused police of using her parents' detention to force her to report.

> Amnesty International Nigeria condemned her arrest and initial sentencing, describing them as 'vindictive' and accusing the police of using her parents' detention to force her to report to the station over a Facebook post criticising their conduct.
## Lawyer Challenges Conviction
Her lawyer argued Farida pleaded guilty without legal representation and did not understand the implications of her plea.

> The lawyer said Ms Isiak had been arraigned, pleaded guilty and was convicted before the legal team arrived.
## Bail Conditions
Farida's father and relatives must stand as sureties to ensure she attends court proceedings under bail conditions.

> Under the bail conditions, her father and other relatives must stand as sureties to ensure she attends subsequent court proceedings, the lawyer said.
## Police Criticized for Actions
The lawyer criticized police for escalating a minor N100 dispute into a serious conflict through unlawful detention.

> The police acted unprofessionally and failed to discharge their primary responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the community.
## Case Proceeds to Trial
The case will now proceed through the normal trial process with the prosecution expected to present evidence at the next hearing.

> The lawyer added that the case would now proceed through the normal trial process, with the prosecution expected to present its evidence at the next hearing.
## Key takeaway

Farida Isiak, a 23-year-old journalist in Kaduna State, was granted bail after a court set aside her conviction for defamation following her Facebook post criticizing police.