#EndBadGovernance: 114 Protesters Arraigned, Granted N10m Bail Each
By Vivian Michael, Abuja
No fewer than 114 protesters, consisting of adults and minors were Friday, arraigned by the federal government and was granted bail to the tune of N10million each and two sureties in the like sum.
They were accused of burning police stations, the High Court Complex, and the National Communications Commission (NCC) Complex during the End Bad Governance protests.
According to the prosecution counsel, Simon Lough SAN, the charges bordered on conspiracy, treason, incitement to mutiny, incitement of disaffection against the government, terrorism, and other related offenses.
The defendants were arraigned in two batches. The first batch of 72 defendants pleased not guilty to the ten-count charge, while the second batch of 43 defendant also pleaded 4-count charges brought against them by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, they defendants were accused of collaborating with a British citizen named Andrew Martin Wynne to destabilize Nigeria and intimidate President Bola Tinubu by allegedly attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, the High Court Complex, the NCC Complex, and other locations
During the first batch arraignment, Nura Ibrahim (24 years old) and 75 others (ages ranging from 14 to 30) were accused of acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne to destabilize Nigeria.
They were alleged to have attacked and injured police officers and burned police stations, the High Court Complex, the NCC Complex, the Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, and the NURTW office, similar to accusations leveled against ten protesters in another court.
Audu Garba, counsel for the prosecution, asked the court to discharge four of the defendants who fell ill in court, adding that they would be rearraigned once they recover following medical treatment.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that since the charges against the four defendants had been withdrawn by the prosecution, “their names are struck out.”
In ruling on the bail, Justice Egwuatu noted that some of the defendants are under 18 years old, and the defendants’ lawyers had promised not to interfere with the trial or destroy evidence.
He also noted that the prosecution did not contest the defendants’ submissions.
“The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10 million each,” the judge said, directing the defendants to provide sureties in a like sum, which must include a civil servant and their parent or sibling.
He ordered the adults to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Service, while the minors would be remanded in the Borstal Home of the Correctional Service in Gwagwalada.
The case was then adjourned to January 24, 2025, for hearing.
