ZARIA, Nigeria: Fifty four people went on trial in northern Nigeria on Monday on charges connected to allegations that they were celebrating a gay wedding, which are outlawed in the country.
The court began hearing the case against the defendants — most of whom were not present in court — who have been charged with criminal conspiracy and holding an illegal gathering.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill in 2014 that criminalized same-sex relationships, rejectying pressure from Western governments to preserve the rights of gay and lesbian people.
The bill contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups.
Defense lawyer Kimi Appah said the gathering had been a birthday party held in April to honor a man who appeared in court.
“Police got wind of it, arrested them and made trumped up charges that they are trying to celebrate a gay marriage,” he told the court in Zaria, a city in the northern state of Kaduna.
The man appeared in court with three other people. They were charged with criminal conspiracy and illegal gathering, to which they all pleaded not guilty. The other accused were not present in court. (Reporting by Abraham Terngu)
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Nigerian court puts dozens on trial over alleged gay wedding
Nigerian court puts dozens on trial over alleged gay wedding
Spain busts gang flying hashish helicopters from Morocco
MADRID: Spanish police on Saturday said they had thwarted a criminal gang that flew helicopters to smuggle hashish into the country from Morocco, in a rare operation against aerial drug trafficking.
The helicopters were capable of transporting between 500 and 900 kilograms of drugs, which were stored in rural estates and warehouses in southern Spain before distribution by road to other European countries, the Civil Guard said in a statement.
Police seized one of the helicopters, 657 kilograms (1,448 pounds) of hashish, five firearms, cash and vehicles during raids in the provinces of Malaga, Almeria and Murcia.
Six arrests were made in the operation, which also involved Moroccan, Belgian and Swedish law enforcement.
Spain’s close ties with Latin America and proximity to Morocco make it a key entry point for drugs into Europe, but smuggling typically takes place by sea.
Spanish police have in the past year also uncovered networks that used drones to transport drugs from Morocco.
The helicopters were capable of transporting between 500 and 900 kilograms of drugs, which were stored in rural estates and warehouses in southern Spain before distribution by road to other European countries, the Civil Guard said in a statement.
Police seized one of the helicopters, 657 kilograms (1,448 pounds) of hashish, five firearms, cash and vehicles during raids in the provinces of Malaga, Almeria and Murcia.
Six arrests were made in the operation, which also involved Moroccan, Belgian and Swedish law enforcement.
Spain’s close ties with Latin America and proximity to Morocco make it a key entry point for drugs into Europe, but smuggling typically takes place by sea.
Spanish police have in the past year also uncovered networks that used drones to transport drugs from Morocco.
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