FG Re-Arraigns 10 Protesters on Treason Charges in Ongoing #EndBadGovernance Case
On Friday, September 27, the Federal Government brought back to court ten protesters associated with the #EndBadGovernance protests that took place nationwide between August 1 and August 10, facing accusations of treasonable felony. The proceedings occurred at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the Inspector-General of Police introduced an updated eight-count charge based on a request from prosecution attorney Simon Lough, SAN.
The protesters, arrested in various cities including Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Gombe, were initially charged on September 2 with six counts but pleaded not guilty. The protests, which spanned ten days, resulted in violence and tragic fatalities in several regions.
On September 11, Justice Emeka Nwite granted each defendant bail of N10 million with one surety of equivalent value. In Friday’s proceedings, Lough introduced Daniel Akande as the 11th defendant, who had been apprehended during a church service on September 1 in Abuja.
After the fresh charges were presented, all defendants, including Akande, maintained they’re not-guilty pleas. Akande’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested bail on lenient terms, while counsel for the other defendants sought to uphold the previous bail agreements. The judge complied, granting Akande bail under similar conditions as his co-defendants, but stipulated that he must surrender his international passport to the court registry.
As the hearing progressed, tensions arose between the defense and prosecution. Abubakar Marshal, representing the first and second defendants, challenged the prosecution’s application to amend the charges, arguing that it did not comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). He asserted that the prosecution had failed to provide essential evidence for the defendants to prepare their defense adequately.
In response, Lough countered that the amendment process was within legal bounds and emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing until a verdict is reached. He also indicated that further evidence would be made available to the defendants in due course.
Justice Nwite, after considering both sides, allowed the prosecution to read the amended charges, inviting defense counsel to raise any future objections at the appropriate times. The proceedings concluded with a scheduled ruling on bail variations for three of the defendants set for October 4, and the main trial is slated to begin on November 11.
