The Department of State Services has released six of the #Hunger or #EndBadGovernance protesters who were arrested during demonstrations in Kaduna State.
The protests, held between August 1 and 10, were in response to the economic hardships being experienced by citizens across the country.
According to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), a total of 2,111 protesters were arrested by security agents during the demonstrations.
Sources within the DSS told our correspondent on Sunday that the six protesters were released following the completion of investigations, while three others would be arraigned.
One source said, “On September 19, 2024, six persons held in Kaduna were released after being cleared at the end of investigations. Meanwhile, three are being prosecuted as prima facie cases have been established against them.
“The DG DSS directed the immediate release of the protesters who were arrested for their various roles in the EndBadGovernance protests.
“The DG is resolute in upholding the mandate of the service by decisively investigating and bringing to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime.”
The DSS could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.
The police had on September 2 arraigned 10 activists in connection with the protest.
In the six counts filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government also named a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, a defendant.
In the charge sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants were accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NCC in Kano,” among others.
The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
In the charge sheet filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Federal Government named the defendants as Micheal Adaramoye (aka Lenin); Adeyemi Ahayomi (aka Yomi); Suleiman Yakubu; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo; Angel Innocent; Buhari Lawal; Mosiu Sadiq; Bashir Bello (aka Murtala); Nursdeen Khamis; Abdulsalam Zubairu; Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich); Lucky Obryan; Comrade Musa Abdollahi.
The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The IG also said, “Between 1 July 2024 and 4 August 2024, at Karshi Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, (defendants) conspired together to commit felony, to wit: Inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”
The IG added that the protesters, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, in collaboration with Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, waged war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings.
Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.
Also, the defendants were accused of collaborating with Wynne, a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, incited disaffection to the government by inciting public disturbance while carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other inscriptions to incite disaffection to the government.
The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.
