Kano Court Remands 632 Over #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Looting
A Kano State Mobile Court has ordered the remand of 632 protesters for their alleged involvement in the vandalism of public and government properties during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
The defendants, who were arraigned before a three-member panel of senior judicial officers, are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, inciting disturbance, trespass, and mischief by fire.
Recall that Neusroom reported that protesters in Kano invaded a popular Rufaidah Yoghurt store on Hadejia Road, and looted the premises, making off with valuable items such as food products, electronics, and furniture.
According to the State Director of Public Prosecution, Salisu Tahir, the defendants committed the alleged offences on August 1 during the nationwide protest.
“The defendants trespassed and vandalised government and public properties in the state. They broke into people’s shops and looted their goods,” Tahir told the court.
The prosecutor stated that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 97, 287, 229, 336, 349, and 247 of the Penal Code. While some of the defendants pleaded guilty, others pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The State Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, explained that the State Government set up three mobile courts to prosecute the defendants due to the large number involved.
“I pleaded with the Kano State Chief Judge to allow the constitution of three Special Courts within the premises of the state police command,” Dederi said.
He added that the case diary would be studied, and appropriate advice given by the Ministry of Justice before the next adjourned date. The court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Yola, Senior Magistrate Hadiza Bello, and Chief Magistrate Abba Dandago, adjourned the sitting until August 19 for a hearing.
The EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests witnessed a higher turnout in the northern part of Nigeria, with several places in the region turning violent.
A total of 10 people were killed in Niger and Borno states as citizens took to the streets to stand against bad governance. In Kano, where it turned violent with looters vandalizing government properties, seven people were allegedly killed according to some reports.
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