Six Men Acquitted for Breaching Public Peace During 2020 #EndSARs Protest After Four Years in Custody
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ikeja, Lagos, acquitted and discharged six men who were charged with breaching public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protest. The men, who had been in custody for almost four years, were released after entering a plea bargain agreement and pleading guilty to the charges brought against them by the Lagos State Government.
The defendants, Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola, 32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33, and Azeez Isiaka, 34, had pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of public peace filed by the Lagos state government. However, their counsel, T.D Ojeshino, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, citing their status as first-time offenders and the lengthy duration of their detention.
“My lord, I plead the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants are first-time offenders. Some are breadwinners of their families and still very young,” Ojeshino said. “They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons.”
Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi, in her judgment, found the defendants guilty but cautioned and discharged them, taking into account their prolonged detention.
“They have spent almost four years in custody,” she noted.
The #EndSARS protests, which began in October 2020, saw Nigerian youths take to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests were marked by widespread arrests, with many demonstrators detained for various offenses linked to the protests.
The release of these six protesters comes after repeated calls for their freedom, including from former senator Shehu Sani, who urged President Bola Tinubu to pardon #EndSARS protesters still in detention. However, the Nigeria Police Force had claimed there were no #EndSARS protesters in their detention facilities.
This ruling brings hope to many families and supporters of the #EndSARS movement, who have long advocated for the release of those detained during the protests.
Also Read: EndSARS: ECOWAS Court Finds Nigerian Government Guilty, Awards ₦10M Compensation to Victims
