A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N10 million each to 10 protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The protesters, arrested during the recent demonstrations against the government’s alleged failures, appeared in court today, Wednesday, September 11, on different charges, including treason, after the case was initially adjourned on September 2.
The accused had participated in a protest aimed at demanding better governance and accountability from the government.
Recall that the Federal Government arraigned 10 leaders, organisers, and members of the protest held from August 1 to 10 across Nigeria, in Abuja today.
The protesters are being tried for alleged treason, inciting mutiny, and intent to destabilise Nigeria.
The protesters arraigned before Emeka Nwite, a judge, are Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon and Angel Innocent.
Others are Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis and Abdulsalam Zubairu.
In the six counts filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government also named a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, as defendant.
During the hearing, the presiding judge, Nwite, held that Nigeria’s criminal justice system has its stipulations for the prosecutor and the defendant.
Nwite agreed with the submission made by Abubakar Marshall, counsel for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants, stating that “that anybody charged with a criminal offence must be presumed innocent until proven guilty”.
He said, “I have carefully considered the submission of the counsel on both divides. I hereby grant the defendants bail notwithstanding the crime.
“The bail is hereby granted to the defendants applicant in the sum of N10m each and one surety in like some”.
Meanwhile, in the charge sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants were accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NCC in Kano,” among others.
Egbetokun specifically accused the protesters of acting together and conspiring with the intent to destabilise the country and commit a felony between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
The police boss said the offence was contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
“Between 1 July 2024 and 4 August 2024, at Karshi Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, (defendants) conspired together to commit felony, to wit: inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code,” he said.
According to him, the protesters, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, in collaboration with Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, waged war against the state in order to intimidate the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations.
He also noted that the protesters attacked the High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings.
Egbetokun noted that the offences were contrary to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.
He stressed that the defendants were accused of conspiring with Wynne, a British citizen, to destabilise Nigeria by inciting public unrest and fostering discontent against the government.
The Inspector General stated that these actions constitute an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
