…Protesters plead not guilty to all charges
The Federal Government on Monday arraigned 10 leaders and organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protesters who took part in the protest held from August 1 to 10, 2024.
The ten people arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court pleaded not guilty to all the six count charges preferred against them by Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police.
The defendants include Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis andAabdulsalam Zubairu.
In the charge sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, they were all accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NigeriaXomnun in Kano,” among others.
The protesters were accused of acting in concert and conspiracy to destabilise the country, committing felony and treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024, as the said offence is contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
“Between 1 July 2024 and 4 August 2024, at Karshi Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, the defendants conspired together to commit a felony, to wit: Inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”
“Between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, in collaboration with Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, waged war against the state to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings.
The defendants were also accused of collaborating with Wynne, a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, and incite disaffection to the government by inciting public disturbance, while carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other inscriptions to incite disaffection to the government.
