Court remands #EndBadGovernance protesters in Kuje Prison
The Federal Government on Monday indicted 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. The Federal Government, through the Inspector-General of Police, indicted the defendants in a charge sheet filed on August 30 with registration number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024. The 124 indicted also included Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opalwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiku, Bashir Bello, Nurladeen Karkis and Abdusalam Zubairu.
They are charged with, among others, treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, felony conspiracy and incitement to rebellion, punishable under Section 97 of the Criminal Code. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that some youths protested across the country on August 1 and 2 over economic hardship. 10 locations across the country. The protests turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism occurring in some states. They all pleaded not guilty. Immediately after the arraignment, the defendants’ lawyers asked the court to grant them bail on the grounds that they are innocent until proven guilty of the charges against them. Marshall Abubakar, the lawyer for the first and third defendants, argued that there was no provision in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJ) that would have justified a written bail application.
He maintained that the defendants were merely protesters and that the charges against them were merely a cover. “May the Lord also recall that the defendants were in custody long before the arrest warrants were issued, some for 30 days and some for 28 days. “We urge the authorities on basic legal grounds of justice and statutes that this honourable court grant bail to the first and third defendants,” he said. Abubakar argued that bail for the defendants can be requested orally at any stage of the trial and asked the court to grant bail on lenient terms. Defendant Hamza Dantani, appearing as the ninth defendant, also asked the court to grant bail as his client is seriously ill and suffers from asthma. Dantani acceded to Abubakar’s request.
Counsel for the sixth, seventh and eighth defendants, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the court to exercise discretion in their favour, saying they were merely protesting within the confines of the constitution. Other lawyers for the remaining defendants also made similar bail applications on their clients’ behalf. Prosecutor Simon Ruff (SAN) vehemently opposed her bail application. He argued for the defendants to be charged with treason, which he said is a serious offence. Ruff argued that bail can only be granted in exceptional circumstances but none of his lawyers could prove that. “Bail can only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are provided for in the ACJA,” he said. Judge Nwait, who ordered the defendants remanded to Kuje Correctional Centre, adjourned the case until September 11 to decide on the bail application.
Court remands #EndBadGovernance protesters in Kuje Prison
