On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to 10 protesters charged with treason-related offenses connected to last month’s #EndBadGovernance protests.
Justice Emeka Nwite set the bail at N10 million for each defendant, requiring a surety with property in Abuja worth the bail amount. The sureties must also submit their passports to the court.
The defendants, who were arraigned on September 2, pleaded not guilty to six charges, including plotting war and attempting to overthrow Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu. Their lawyers argued that the evidence did not support the treason allegations.
The charges against the defendants include inciting mutiny, destabilizing Nigeria, and waging war against the state. They were also accused of attacking police officers, burning police stations, and destroying other properties.
Counsel for the 1st-4th defendants, Abubakar Marshal, urged the Federal Government to reconsider the charges, highlighting that 49 additional protesters remain detained at Kuje Correctional Centre under court order.
The case has been adjourned to September 27 for trial commencement.
However, there are still plots by Nigerian citizens to commence more hunger protest as hunger continue to ravage the most populous African nation. But it remains to be seen if Tinubu who has been described as the worst dictator that the country has ever seen would allow them go ahead with the protest.
