The Federal Government is set to arraign several leaders and organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, 2024. The arraignment is scheduled for today.
The protesters are being charged with treason, inciting mutiny, and attempting to destabilize the country.
Among those to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court are 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 Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, filed six charges against the protesters. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, also names a British citizen, Andrew Wynne (alias Andrew Povich), as a defendant.
The charges include treason, conspiring to destabilize the country, intimidating the President, and damaging the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) building in Kano.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of acting in concert and conspiring to commit treason between July 1 and August 4, 2024, with the intent to destabilize Nigeria. Egbetokun cited that these actions are in violation of Section 95 and are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The Inspector-General further claimed that between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, the protesters, in coordination with Andrew Wynne, allegedly waged war against the state to intimidate or overpower the President.
This included attacking police officers, setting fire to police stations, and damaging several buildings, including the High Court Complex, NCC Complex, and Government House Karo, among others.
Egbetokun added that these actions are offenses under Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204. Additionally, the defendants are accused of inciting public unrest and disaffection toward the government by carrying placards with slogans like “End Bad Government.”
The Inspector-General stated that these actions violate Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.
