Court Grants N10 Million Bail Each to 10 Hunger Protesters Facing Treason Charges
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to ten #EndBadGovernance protesters who were arrested and detained on charges including treason. The court’s decision came on Wednesday, September 11, marking a crucial moment in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the activists.
Each of the ten defendants #EndBadGovernance protest was granted bail in the sum of N10 million, with the condition of providing a surety in the same amount. This decision comes amidst heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and its handling of political dissent.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite emphasized the principles of fairness and the presumption of innocence, noting that Nigeria’s criminal justice system provides clear guidelines for both prosecutors and defendants. The judge concurred with the argument presented by the defense counsel, Abubakar Marshall, representing the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants of the #EndBadGovernance protest, that anyone charged with a criminal offense should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“I have carefully considered the submissions from both sides,” Justice Nwite stated in his ruling. “Despite the serious nature of the charges, I am granting bail to the defendants. The bail is set at N10 million each, with the requirement of one surety in like sum.”
