COURT FIXES SEPTEMBER 11 FOR TRIAL, RULING ON BAIL FOR #EndBadGovernance PROTESTERS

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The Federal High Court has set September 11 for the hearing and decision on the bail application of the #EndBadGovernance protestors who were arrested in Abuja on Monday.

The demonstrators are being tried for treason, encouraging mutiny, and attempting to undermine Nigeria.

Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent were among the 10 defendants brought before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.

Others were Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu.

In addition to the six counts filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government listed a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, as a defendant.

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.

The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.

Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The IG also said, “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.”

The IG added that 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 or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings.

Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.

The defendants were also accused of collaborating with Wynne, a British citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, inciting public disturbance while carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other inscriptions to incite disaffection with the government.

The IG stated that they violated Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, CAP P3 LFN 204.