The confrontation between Niger’s judiciary and its most outspoken lawyers has entered a decisive new phase. On Tuesday, October 6, Abdourahamane Lirwana, a member of the Niamey bar who was remanded in custody two weeks earlier, stood before the High Court of Niamey to answer the charges against him. When the proceedings closed, the public prosecutor demanded a five-year prison term without suspension, together with a fine of five million CFA francs.
Online posts at the centre of the case
The prosecution rests on content the lawyer published on social media. The authorities accuse Me Lirwana of “disseminating data likely to disturb public order,” an offence carrying heavy penalties under Niger’s cybercrime legislation.
A courtroom under procedural strain
From the outset, the hearing unfolded amid acute procedural tension. Twenty-four hours before it opened, the team of lawyers defending the accused had petitioned the Court of State to have the case transferred, arguing that the Niamey court could not offer the independence required for a fair trial. The higher court rejected the request, keeping the matter in the capital.
A defence strategy of total silence
Convinced that the rights of the defence were being blatantly trampled, Me Lirwana’s counsel made a decisive choice: they refused point-blank to plead. Following their instructions, the accused remained completely silent when questioned by the presiding judge and the prosecutor.
That refusal to cooperate did not halt the session. Setting aside the absence of defence arguments, the court closed the proceedings and took the case under advisement. The final ruling, now eagerly awaited by legal circles and civil society, will determine the lawyer’s fate at a time when public speech on digital platforms is tightly controlled.
