Over 10 protesters who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests from August 1 to 10 have been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after being charged with treason by the Federal Government.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the protesters’ detention pending the outcome of their bail application, which is set for September 11, 2024.
Ten of the 124 persons arraigned included Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Angel innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis, and Abdusalam Zubairu.
They were charged with treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit a felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code
The accused have pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge that includes allegations of terrorism.
Meanwhile, this development has drawn serious concern from human rights advocates, who are scrutinizing the government’s response to the demonstrations that highlighted critical issues such as hunger and misgovernance.
As the case unfolds, further details are anticipated, with the upcoming court session poised to address the immediate legal status and potential release of the accused protesters.