The charges, filed at a Federal High Court in the Abuja Division on Friday, August 30, 2024, include felony and treason, said to be offences contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The Nigerian government has filed six charges against protesters who were arrested on August 4, 2024, during the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across the country.
The charges, filed at a Federal High Court in the Abuja Division on Friday, August 30, 2024, include felony and treason, said to be offences contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which drew thousands of demonstrators across various cities in the country, were fuelled by widespread dissatisfaction with government policies, fuel subsidy, allegations of corruption, and growing economic hardships.
Protesters, mostly young Nigerians, took to the streets to demand better governance, accountability, and an end to systemic issues that have plagued the nation for decades.
The arrest of several protesters during the demonstrations sparked outrage among civil society groups and international human rights organisations, who have called for their immediate release.
A court document obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday reveals that the charges were filed against 10 protesters listed as Defendants. They are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye (aka Lenin), male, 28 years; Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (aka Yomi), male, 34 years; Suleiman Yakubu, male, 28 years; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, male, 50 years; Angel Love Innocent, female, 51 years; Buhari Lawal, male, 21 years; Mosiu Sadiq, male, 28 years; Bashir Bello (aka Murtala), male, 51 years; Nuradeen Khamis, male, 47 years; and Abdulsalam Zubairu, male, 37 years.
These individuals, along with others, will be charged before the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Abuja Judicial Division.
The Inspector General of Police is the sole Complainant.
The charges read as follows: “Count One - That you the above-named defendants, along with others including Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), a British citizen, male, age unspecified, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, and others now at large, are accused of conspiring between July 1, 2024, and August 4, 2024, at Karshi, Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, with the intent to destabilize Nigeria by committing felony to wit: treason. This offense is contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
“Count Two - The same individuals and others, including Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), a British citizen, male, 70 years, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, and Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, now at large, between July 1, 2024, and August 4, 2024, at Karshi, Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, are accused of acting in concert with the intent to destabilize Nigeria by inciting mutiny. This offense is contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
“Count Three - The accused, along with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), male, 70 years, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, and Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, now at large, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, are accused of acting in concert to levy war against the state with intent to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, the High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office, and several other buildings. This offense is contrary to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN.
“Count Four - The accused, along with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), male, 70 years, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, and Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, now at large, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Nyanya, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, and other states within the jurisdiction of this court, are accused of inciting mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by chanting "Tinubu must go" and "soja muskeso" (meaning "it is the military we want"), while rioting and disturbing public peace. This offense is contrary to Section 413 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN.
“Count Five - The accused, along with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), male, 70 years, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, and Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, now at large, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, and other states within the jurisdiction of this court, are accused of inciting public disturbance and disaffection towards the government by carrying placards with inscriptions like "end bad government" to incite public unrest. This offense is contrary to Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN.
“Count Six - The accused, along with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), male, 70 years, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, and Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, now at large, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, and Katsina, are accused of conspiring with the intent to destabilize Nigeria and remove the President by unconstitutional means. They allegedly mobilized their members to force their way into Abacha Army Barracks, Government House Kano, and destroyed the High Court, Printing Press, and NCC Complexes in Kano.”
SaharaReporters earlier on Sunday reported that the mass trial of #EndBadGovernance protesters would commence on Monday, September 2, 2024 in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Borno courts.
SaharaReporters learnt that those detained over the #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja would be tried in Justice Emeka Nwite’s court.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) will be leading a team of lawyers to defend the protesters.
Amnesty International Nigeria had said that over 2,000 protesters were arrested across the country during the 10-day protests against hunger and misgovernance tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
It had demanded the unconditional release of those arrested, insisting that instead government should begin to address the issues that led to the protests in the first place.
Specifically, Amnesty International said out of the 2,111 suspects arrested across the country, 1,403 had been arraigned in various courts.
It lamented that the suspects were ordered to be remanded in prison custody due to a lack of legal representation.
Last Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had granted the police's request to remand 124 protesters in custody for 60 days, pending the completion of investigations.