#EndBadGovernance Protesters Remanded In Kuje, Suleja Prisons

In a significant legal development, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of #EndBadGovernance protesters in prison custody. On Monday, the judge directed that nine male protesters be held at Kuje Prison, while a female protester was remanded in Suleja Prison.

The court has scheduled September 11 for the commencement of their trial and a ruling on their bail applications. The protesters, who were arraigned on charges including alleged treason, mutiny, and conspiracy to destabilize Nigeria, have all pleaded not guilty.

The individuals involved in the case include Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu. The charges against them include levying war against the state and inciting mutiny, offenses that are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

According to the prosecution, the defendants are accused of attempting to intimidate President Bola Tinubu by attacking and injuring police officers, as well as burning police stations, government buildings, and private properties during the protests.

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the ongoing legal proceedings, calling the trials a “sham” and an attempt to suppress peaceful dissent. Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, stated, “The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested during the protests for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.”

Sanusi further criticized the government’s focus on punishing protesters while neglecting to investigate the deaths of several demonstrators in Kano, Katsina, Suleja/Tafa, Jigawa, and Maiduguri, who were allegedly subjected to excessive force by security personnel.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, were sparked by widespread economic hardship and dissatisfaction with government policies, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex windows. The protests, initially peaceful, escalated in several states, including Kano, Borno, and Kaduna, where violence erupted, leading to the deaths of seven people and widespread destruction.

Protesters demanded the restoration of subsidies, reforms in government spending, and accountability from officials, among other issues. Civil society organizations have criticized the police’s response, particularly the use of tear gas to disperse demonstrators.