10 #EndBadGovernance protesters remanded in Kuje prison

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the remand of 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters charged with treason in the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after counsel for the defendants prayed the court to grant the defendants bail as they were innocent until proven guilty of the charges against them.

The federal government, through the Inspector-General of Police, arraigned the defendants in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 filed on August 30.

Ten of the 124 persons arraigned included Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Angel innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis, and Abdusalam Zubairu.

They were charged with treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit a felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code.

Some youths staged nationwide protests against economic hardship between August 1 and August 10. The demonstration turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.

They all pleaded not guilty.

Lawyer to the first and third defendants, Marshall Abubakar, argued that no provision in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJ), 2015, warrants a written application for bail.

He argued that the defendants were mere protesters and that the charge brought against them was a camouflage.

“The protesters were merely exercising their rights. My lord will also recall that the defendants have been in custody long before a detention order was granted, in fact some for 30 days and some for 28 days.

“We are applying under the fundamental legal footing, both judicial and statutory, from the authorities that this honourable court admits the first and third defendants to bail,” he said.

Mr Abubakar, who argued that the defendants’ bail could be moved orally at any trial stage, urged the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.

Hamza Dantani, who appeared for the ninth defendant, equally prayed the court to grant his client bail as he is seriously sick and suffering from asthma.

Mr Dantani aligned himself with Mr Abubakar’s submission.

Counsel to the sixth, seventh and eighth defendants, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the court to use its discretion in favour of the defendants, saying they were only protesting as approved in the constitution.

Other lawyers to the rest of the defendants made the same bail request to the court on behalf of their clients.

The prosecution counsel, Simon Lough (SAN), vehemently opposed their submission for bail, insisting the defendants were being tried for treason, which he said is a serious offence.

Mr Lough argued that bail could only be granted in exceptional cases, which none of the lawyers could prove.

“Bail can only be granted on exceptional circumstances; those exceptional circumstances are listed in ACJA,” he said.

Justice Nwite, who ordered the defendants to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, adjourned the matter until September 11 to rule on the bail applications.