The Nigerian government has charged 10 protesters with treason following their involvement in the recent #EndBadGovernance and hunger protests that swept across the nation.
The protesters were arraigned on Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja, facing a six-count charge that includes treason, mutiny, and incitement against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The defendants, identified as Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubair, allegedly engaged in these activities between July 1 and 4, 2024. According to the prosecution, they were incited by a 70-year-old Briton named Andrew Wynne, who remains at large.
The charges, brought forward by police lawyer Simon Lough, SAN, are severe, with allegations that the defendants conspired to destabilize Nigeria. “We have already initiated steps to declare Andrew Wynne a wanted person,” Lough told journalists after the court proceedings.
All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their legal representatives, including prominent lawyers Abubakar Marshall and Deji Adeyanju, immediately sought bail for their clients. However, the prosecution objected to the oral bail application, arguing that it needed to be formally documented.
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The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, adjourned the case to September 11 for a ruling on the bail application. In the meantime, he ordered that nine of the male defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center, while the sole female defendant was sent to the Suleja Correctional Center.
Count one accuses them of “acting in concert and with intent to destabilize Nigeria” by conspiring to commit treason, an offence punishable under sections 96 and 97 of the Penal Code. Count two alleges that they incited mutiny with the intent to destabilize the country, while count three details a broader conspiracy involving attacks on police officers, government buildings, and other public properties across Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe.
The government’s swift action against these protesters has sparked widespread concern and debate, with many Nigerians questioning the charges and the implications for freedom of speech and assembly. As the case unfolds, it is expected to draw significant attention both locally and internationally, especially given the ongoing tensions and calls for reform in Nigeria.
This high-profile case serves as a critical test of Nigeria’s legal and political landscape, with potential ramifications for the nation’s democratic processes and the rights of its citizens.
