The Federal High Court has remanded ten #EndBadGovernance protesters in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Services.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday, remanded nine male protesters in the Kuje prison while a female protester was remanded in Suleja.
The Federal Government on Monday arraigned several leaders and organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests that took place from August 1 to 10, 2024, today.
In the charges filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich, is also named as a defendant.
In the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants are accused of “treason, destabilizing the country, intimidating the President, and destroying the NCC in Kano,” among other offenses.
Egbetokun specifically accused the protesters of acting collaboratively and conspiring to destabilize the country by committing a felony, specifically treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
Egbetokun stated that, between July 1 and August 4, 2024, in Karshi, Abuja FCT, the defendants acted in concert with the intent to destabilize Nigeria, conspiring together to incite mutiny, an offense contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
He also alleged that the protesters, from July 1 to August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, in collaboration with Andrew Wynne, aimed to destabilize Nigeria by waging war against the state.
This included attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, the High Court Complex, the NCC Complex, the Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, and several other buildings.
Egbetokun noted that this offense is contrary to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.
Additionally, the defendants were accused of collaborating with Wynne, with the intent to destabilize Nigeria, by inciting public disturbances while carrying placards inscribed with “End Bad Government” and other messages aimed at inciting disaffection toward the government.
The Inspector-General stated that this action violates Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare (FRCN)
