The Nigeria Police Force has charged ten #EndBadGovernance protesters in Abuja with treason for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, based on charge sheet FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, dated August 30, 2024, and submitted by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
READ ALSO: How #EndBadGovernance protest led to ex-DSS DG Bichi’s sack
The accused, who were involved in nationwide protests against hunger and poor governance from August 1 to 10, 2024, were identified as Michael Tobilola Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), aged 28; Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (Yomi), aged 34; Suleiman Yakubu, aged 28; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon (Bob-Simon), aged 50; Angel Love Innocent (Loveth), aged 51; Buhari Lawal, aged 21; Mosiu Sadiq, aged 28; Bashir Bello (Murtala), aged 51; Nuradeen Khamis, aged 47; and Abdulsalam Zubairu, aged 37. Among them, British national Andrew Martin Wynne (Andrew Povich), aged 70, and others now at large were also implicated in the charges.
The protesters were arrested at various locations across the country. The charge sheet details multiple offenses allegedly committed by the defendants, including conspiring to destabilize Nigeria, which constitutes treason under Section 96 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 97.
One of the counts accuses the defendants of “levying war against the state” by attacking and damaging government and private properties, including police stations, court complexes, and other significant buildings in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe. This action, according to the police, was intended to intimidate or overwhelm the state, a violation of Section 410 of the Penal Code.
Another charge claims that between July 1 and August 10, 2024, the defendants incited mutiny and unrest by calling for the military to take control of the government from President Tinubu. The protesters allegedly chanted slogans such as “Tinubu Must Go” and “soja muskeso,” meaning “Tinubu must go, it is the military we want,” during riots in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, and other states. This offense is said to contravene Section 413 of the Penal Code.
This development follows a recent ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Federal High Court, who, on August 20, 2024, ordered the freezing of bank accounts linked to the defendants. The order was granted to allow for further investigation and prosecution of the case.
