Skip to main content

Nigeria's Security Agencies, Unethical Judges, Others Must Face Reckoning For Oppressing Peaceful Protesters —Sowore

C
September 11, 2024

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), lambasted the Tinubu government on Wednesday, following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that granted bail to 10 detained protesters to the tune of N10 million each.

 

Prominent human rights advocate and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has vehemently condemned President Bola Tinubu's administration for its relentless persecution of Nigerians and the frivolous charges levied against detained #EndBadGovernance protesters.

 

 

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), lambasted the Tinubu government on Wednesday, following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that granted bail to 10 detained protesters to the tune of N10 million each.

 

 

The activist denounced the administration's sustained crackdown on dissenting voices, characterizing the charges against the protesters as spurious and oppressive.

 

 

Sowore's scathing critique comes amidst growing concerns over the government's handling of protests and the erosion of civil liberties in Nigeria.

 

Sowore said it is a shame that Nigerians are subjected to what he described as the most egregious false charges against protesters who are then detained indefinitely. 

 

He lamented that meanwhile, no one had been held to account over the unjust prosecution of the peaceful protesters.

 

SaharaReporters earlier reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted each of the 10 protesters arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, for their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests, N10 million bail, and asked each of the defendants to provide a surety with landed property in Abuja.

 

They are Comrades Eleojo Opaluwa, Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, aka Michael Lenin, Angel Innocent, Mosiu Sodiq, Adeyemi Abayomi, along with five others arrested for simply waving flags in Kano (Suleiman Yakubu, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello [Murtala], Nuradeen Khamis, Abdulsalam Zubairu).

 

https://saharareporters.com/2024/09/11/breaking-nigerian-court-grants-10-endbadgovernance-protesters-n10million-bail-each 

 

The young Nigerians have been languishing in Kuje Correctional Centre since September 2 shortly after their arraignment when the court turned down the oral application moved by their lawyers.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite while ruling on the bail application filed by their respective lawyers on Wednesday held that the offence for which the defendants are standing trial are bailable and they are entitled to bail.

 

He ordered that the surety must swear an affidavit of means and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must deposit the title documents of their property.

 

The court also held that the defendants must submit three passport photographs and their passports while restricting them from participating in any public rally. 

 

Meanwhile, counsel for the 1st - 4th defendants, Abubakar Marshal told the court that about 49 protesters were still being held in Kuje Correctional Centre on the order of the court.

 

The judge therefore adjourned the case to September 27 for the commencement of the trial.

 

Reacting to the court ruling, Sowore in a post on his X account, said what the Nigerian government does with the bogus charges is to obtain prison sentences during the trial stages against innocent citizens since they know from the outset that there is no evidence of wrongdoing. 

 

He said, “As expected, the ridiculous “Treason” case brought against #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria activists at the Federal High Court in Abuja is folding up; activists have been granted bail at a bail bond of N10 million each and are asked to find sureties with landed property. 

 

“It is a shame that citizens are subjected to the most egregious false charges and detained indefinitely over these false charges, and at times, lives are completely decimated, and no one is held to account over these unjust prosecutions. 

 

“What the Nigerian state does with these bogus charges is to obtain prison sentences during the trial stages against innocent citizens since they know from the onset that there is no evidence of wrongdoing and a proper trial without proof is an impossible task even before some of their most incompetent kangaroo judges. 

 

“We must make the Nigerian state pay for these prosecutorial atrocities by punishing unethical judges, prosecutors, and arresting authorities - particularly the Nigeria Police Force, lawless DSS, and the attorney general of the federation- in their individual capacities. We move #FearlessINOctober.

 

“Regardless, we appreciate these ferocious young lawyers @adeyanjudeji @AbubakarMarshal @AK_MUSA1 @InibeheEffiong and many others who are taking up the resistance mantle to dismantle oppression rooted in Nigerian courtrooms.”