The federal government of Nigeria on Monday, charged ten arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters to court over charges including treasonable felony and a “plan to destabilise Nigeria.”
The protesters were charged before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge.
The charges against the protesters, who were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, included an attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 of this year during the nationwide protests.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who brought the charges against them, alleged that the accused broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.
The IGP also alleged that they allegedly burned a police station and injured police officers.
They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties, including police stations, a High Court complex, and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe, among other locations.
In the charge sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The protesters, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
The defendants are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye (aka Lenin); Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (aka Yomi); Suleiman Yakubu; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon; Angel Innocent; Buhari Lawal; Mosiu Sadiq; Bashir Bello (aka Murtala); Nuradeen Khamis; and Abdulsalam Zubairu.
Counsel for the IGP, Simon Lough (SAN), asked Justice Nwite to remand the accused in prison pending trial.
His position was, however, contested in court by the legal counsel for the protesters who asked the court to grant bail to his clients.
After listening to the legal counsels, the Court fixed September 11 for the trial and ruling on bail application for the #EndBadGovernance protesters.
