#EndSARS protest was championed by Nigerians youths last year to call for the disbandment of a brutal police unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has again charged a student activist, Moyinoluwa Olowoyo to court for his participation in #EndSARS protest last year.
#EndSARS protest was championed by Nigerians youths last year to call for the disbandment of a brutal police unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
According to a court document obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday, the Ekiti State government as the complainant, alleged that Olowoyo conspired to commit an offence of malicious damage on October 18, 2020.
SaharaReporters had reported last year that Olowoyo was arrested by the police and secretly moved to the police headquarters, Abuja, where he was detained without trial.
However, after pressure from Nigerians, the police moved him back to Ekiti, where he was detained before his arraignment in November 2020.
He was arraigned at a magistrate court and charged with arson.
At his arraignment, the magistrate, Abdul Lawal, granted Moyinoluwa bail in liberal terms.
He was able to perfect his bail condition on Monday and was set free by the police.
Condemning the arrest and unlawful detention of Moyinoluwa last year, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, berated the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, who oversaw the arrest of innocent protesters in the state.
"This is draconian for an innocent guy being framed over #EndSARSProtests! Governor Kayode Fayemi we won’t forget the injustice meted out to these youngsters," he said.
But months after regaining his freedom, the government of Fayemi has filed another suit at the High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital to ensure another illegal detention of Olowoyo.
A top source privy to the matter told SaharaReporters on Thursday that Governor Fayemi and his Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Wale Fapohunda “are hell-bent on victimising Olowoyo”.
The court document read in part, “The court is informed by the Attorney-General on behalf of the State that Moyinoluwa Victor Olowoyo is charged with the following offence:
“Count 1: conspiracy contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.
“Moyinoluwa Victor Olowoyo with others at large on or about the 18th day of October, 2020 at Ado-Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire together to commit an offence to wit: Malicious Damage.
“Count 2: Malicious Damage contrary to Section 451 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.
“Moyinoluwa Victor Olowoyo with others at large on or about the 18th day of October, 2020 at Ado-Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did destroy the vehicle of the press crew of the His Excellency, the Governor of Ekiti State.”