Ten members of the #EndBadGovernance protesters were arraigned on Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja, charged with attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 of this year.
The protesters were accused of treason during their nationwide protests, where they allegedly waged war against Nigeria, in violation of sections 96, 410, and 413 of the Penal Code.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), who brought the charges, claimed that the accused broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and called for the military to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.
They were also accused of attempting to storm the seat of power, burning down a police station, injuring police officers, and inciting the public against the government.
Additionally, they allegedly destroyed public property, including a police station, a High Court complex, and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.
A 70-year-old British citizen, Andrew Martin Wynne, now at large, was accused of instigating a mutiny against the Nigerian government. The alleged offenses were said to have occurred in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe.
The accused individuals, who pleaded not guilty, include Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis, and Abduldalam Zubair.
The IGP’s counsel, Simon Lough, SAN, requested that the defendants be remanded in prison pending their trial.
However, the defense lawyers moved for their bail, arguing that the defendants were presumed innocent until proven guilty and citing precedents where oral bail applications had been granted.
Marshall Abubakar, representing four of the defendants, emphasized that they had already been held in custody for nearly a month, and assured the court that his clients would not jump bail.
Deji Adeyanju, representing three other defendants, argued that the charges were unjust, as the defendants were only participating in a lawful protest.
Despite the defense’s arguments, the prosecution opposed the bail requests due to the severity of the charges, including mutiny and incitement involving a foreign national.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the nine male defendants be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja, while the only female defendant, Angel Love Innocent, who is reportedly pregnant, was ordered to be taken to Suleja prison in Niger State.
The judge postponed the decision on their bail applications until September 11, stating that he needed time to review the legal authorities cited by the defense.
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