EndBadGovernment protest: FG begins mass trial of protesters on treason charges

The Federal government has commenced mass trial of end hunger protesters with the arraignment of 10 suspects including a female before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court on charges of attempt to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 this year. 

In a six-count charge filed by the Inspector General of police, the defendants, were accused of commiting treason during the national protest when they levied war against Nigeria.

Already, Justice Emeka Nwite has ordered that nine of the male suspects be remand at Kuje correctional center, while the sole female should takes her place at the Suleja facility in Niger State.

Before the defendants were arraigned on Monday, Justice Nwite had granted the request by the police to remand 124 protesters in custody for 60 days, pending the completion of investigations.

The interim order was sequel to separate ex-parte motions filed by the police, through Ibrahim Mohammed, to allow for the continued detention of the defendants.

The prosecution, through its counsel, Simon Lough (SAN), a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said the defendants committed the treason offence during their one week nationwide protests when they allegedly levied war against Nigeria. 

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.

The police alleged that the defendants allegedly broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu. 

DCP Lough, the prosecution counsel, also alleged that the defendants attempted to force their way into into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down police station and injured police officers. 

They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties comprising Police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities. 

Police also claimed that a 70- year old British citizen, Andrew Martin Wynne now at large was largely responsible for instigating mutiny against the Nigerian government. 

The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Gombe among others. 

However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them. 

The accused persons are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair. 

Upon their plea of not guilty, Lough, asked Justice Emeka Nwite to remand them in prison pending their trial. 

However, counsel to the defendants moved oral applications for bail of the accused persons. 

Marshall Abubakar who stood for four of the defendants cited authorities to justify his oral application for his bail adding that the Federal High Court in the treasonable charges against a politician, MKO Abiola allowed oral application and admitted him to bail. 

Abubakar told Justice Emeka Nwite that his clients were presumed innocent in law until proved otherwise by the IGP adding also that bail is Constitutional rights of the defendants. 

Besides, the counsel submitted that the defendants had been held in custody for close to a month by police who he said, have completed investigation into the allegations against his clients before bringing them to court. 

The lawyer assured the Judge that the defendants would not jump bail if granted and that they will also not tamper with witnesses in the matter. 

Another lawyer, Deji Adeyanju who appeared for three of the defendants faulted the treason charges against the defendants insisting that they only participated in a lawful and legitimate protests against hardships facing them. 

Adeyanju argued that police ought to have entered the locations of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists, arrest and charge them with treason offence instead of innocent protesters. 

He drew the attention of the court to the proof of evidence attached to the charges adding that no evidence pointed to the direction of treason, mutiny and incitement as alleged by police. 

Insisting that bail is discretionary, Adeyanju pleaded with the Judge to exercise his discretion in favor of the defendants by admitting them to bail in liberal terms. 

However, counsel to Police, Simon Lough SAN vehemently objected to the bail requests on the ground of gravity of alleged offences the accused persons were charged with. 

He specifically cited mutiny aimed at changing democratic government by force through incitement and involvement of a British national against the Nigerian nation. 

In a brief reaction, Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje prison in Abuja and Suleja prison in Niger State and

adjourned ruling in their bail applications till September 11

The Judge ordered that the nine males defendants are to remain in Kuje prison while the only female defendant said to be pregnant, Angel Love Innocent was ordered to be taken to Suleja prison. 

Justice Nwite said that he needed time to consult the retinue of authorities cited by lawyers to back up bail applications. 

Although lawyers to the accused persons led by Marshall Abubakar had requested for police custody for their respective clients, Justice Emeka Nwite rejected the request and instead ordered that they be taken to prisons.

Justice Nwite had earlier in a separate proceedings, granted an ex-parte order freezing the accounts of some of the alleged #Endbadgovernance protesters.

The order was obtained against 32 individuals and companies allegedly linked to the protest.

The order also directed banks to detain account holders or anyone found transacting business on the affected accounts, pending investigation and prosecution.

The account numbers affected include 4010073491 (Fidelity Bank), 1255130019 (Access Bank), 0006084167 (Abbey Mortgage Multipurpose Bank Plc), 0821931299 (FCMB), 1012007655 (FCMB), 0000575573 (A AG Mortgage Bank Plc), 1007871587 (UBA), 2037117333 (UBA), 5421031104 (ECOBANK), 0024541201 (Union Bank), 1022899050 (UBA), 8755008491 (Branch International Services Ltd), 5630208636 (Fidelity), and 4936992542 (Fairmoney Microfinance Bank).

Others are 8755008499 (Branch International Financial Services Ltd), 2088228208 (UBA), 2115678044 (Zenith Bank), 3041823452 (First Bank), 1011828445 (New Edge Finance), 3024402748 (First Bank), 0161502459 (GTBank), 0040580047 (Access Bank), 0250291788 (Wema Bank), 6112464260 (Branch International Financial Services Ltd), 1000774097 (Sparkle Microfinance Bank Ltd), 3434649965 (Fairmoney Microfinance Bank), 2013556714 (KUDA Microfinance Bank), 3104962864 (Polaris Bank), 6112464267 (Branch International Finance Services Lit), 8137051249 (OPAY) and 8137051249 (PALMPAY).