The Federal Government will, on November 1, arraign 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to The PUNCH, the protesters, who were arrested during demonstrations held between August 1 and 10, 2024, are facing a 10-count charge, including accusations of treason and conspiracy to destabilize the country.
The protests, which erupted due to widespread economic hardship, took place in various parts of the country, including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano.
Security forces reportedly responded by using tear gas, arresting protesters, and, in some cases, resorting to gunfire.
Among the 76 protesters listed in the charge sheet, 32 are minors between the ages of 14 and 17. The list includes names such as Nura Ibrahim (24), Abdulbasi Abdusalami (34), Umar Musa (15), Muhammadu Mustapha (16), and Saminu Sani (22), among others.
The charges, filed by the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun through his legal counsel, Simon Lough, accuse the protesters of conspiring to destabilize Nigeria.
The charge sheet reads in part, “Between July 31 and August 4, 2024, at Abuja and Kano Metropolis, within the jurisdiction of this court, the defendants conspired together to commit felony, to wit: treason.”
The protesters are also accused of inciting mutiny by calling for military intervention to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “They chanted ‘Tinubu must go’ and ‘soja mus k’eso,’ which means ‘we want the military,'” the prosecution alleged.
The charges further claim the protesters, in concert with a British national identified as Andrew Martin Wynne, attacked police officers and destroyed several public buildings, including police stations, a High Court complex, and the National Communications Commission office.
The IGP’s office also alleges that some protesters carried Russian flags while chanting violent slogans.
The demonstrators reportedly looted several public properties during the protests, damaging infrastructure and carting away valuables from government offices.
This development follows the earlier arraignment of 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters on September 2 before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
While the court initially set bail at N100 million for each of the defendants, the amount was later reduced to N5 million after a variation application was filed on behalf of five protesters.
The Federal Government has drawn criticism from various rights groups regarding the arrests and handling of the protests.
However, the government maintains that the protests were aimed at destabilizing the country and that it is committed to safeguarding national security.
