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Amnesty International: The Nigerian government has been wrongfully placing priority on punishing protesters, without saying even a word on the urgent need to investigate the killing of dozens of protesters across Kano, Katsina, Suleja/Tafa, Jigawa and Maiduguri
By Valentine Amanze
Nigerian government has stirred another judicial controversy with the Monday September 2, 2024 remanding of nine male #EndBadGovernance protesters in the Kuje prison while a female protester was remanded in Suleja.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who gave order also fixed September 11 for trial and ruling on bail application by the protesters.
This followed the arraignment of the protesters for alleged treason, mutiny and intent to destabilise Nigeria.
The 10 persons who were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite are Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent.
Others are Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu.
The defendants, who all pleaded not guilty, were arraigned on six counts of alleged treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit felony and inciting to mutiny which is an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The defendants are equally accused of levying war against the state to intimidate President Bola Tinubu by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, government buildings and private buildings.
Also read: Why court granted Abba Kyari two-week bail
Meanwhile, Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the trial.
The Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said, “We condemn the sham trials even before they began and call for an end to these endless bizarre attempts to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest.
“What is going to happen to these protesters — who took to the streets last month seeking good governance — is a disguised exercise solely aimed at punishing dissenters.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested from 1-10 August for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, instead of resorting to putting them through trumped-up charges just to justify unlawfully detaining them.
“The Nigerian government has been wrongfully placing priority on punishing protesters, without saying even a word on the urgent need to investigate the killing of dozens of protesters across Kano, Katsina, Suleja/Tafa, Jigawa and Maiduguri. Many protesters were subjected to horrific violations by security personnel, including excessive use of force and misuse of tear gas.”
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