10 Hunger Protesters Face Treason Charges, Remanded in Kuje Prison
10 individuals involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests have been remanded in Kuje Prison, Abuja, as they await trial on charges of treason and incitement to mutiny.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has scheduled the trial and ruling on their bail application for September 11.
The protesters, including Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin, and Adeyemi Abayomi, face serious allegations of conspiring to destabilise the country, intimidate the President, and incite public unrest.
The charges were brought forward by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who accused the group of acting in concert with a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich. While Wynne was not in the court, the Nigerian police, through the spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, has declared the Briton wanted for building what he described as a “network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.”
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences took place between July 1 and August 10, 2024, across multiple states, including Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe. The charges include waging war against the state, attacking police officers, and damaging government properties, including police stations and the High Court Complex.
“The defendants conspired to incite disaffection towards the government by organizing and participating in protests aimed at destabilizing the country,” Egbetokun stated in the charge sheet.
He also claimed that the group, in collaboration with Wynne, aimed to intimidate the government through violent actions.
The court’s decision on September 11 will determine whether the protesters will be granted bail or continue to be held in custody as they await trial.
