The Federal Government is ready to arraign among the organisers of the latest starvation protest right this moment (Monday) earlier than the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the six counts filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government additionally named a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, a defendant.
In the cost sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants had been accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NCC in Kano,” amongst others.
The IG particularly accused the protesters of performing in live performance and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the nation, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
The #EndBadGoveranceInNigeria protests, which commenced on August 1 and ended on 10, had been in response to the financial hardship skilled by the residents.
According to figures revealed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), on August 22, 2024, a complete of two,111 people had been arrested through the 10-day nationwide protests.
Falana added that out of the arrested suspects, a complete of 1,403 had been arraigned in courts and remanded in prisons because of lack of authorized illustration.
In the cost sheet filed earlier than 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 particularly accused the protesters of performing in live performance and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the nation, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
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Egbetokun mentioned the offence was opposite to Section 95 and punishable below Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The IG additionally mentioned, “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 warfare in opposition to the state as a way to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring law enforcement officials and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency workplace, NURTW workplace and several other different buildings.
Egbetokun mentioned the offence was opposite to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.
Also, the defendants had been accused of collaborating with Wynne, a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, incited disaffection to the federal government by inciting public disturbance whereas carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other different inscriptions to incite disaffection to the federal government.
The IG mentioned they dedicated an offence opposite to Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.
The National Coordinator, Take It Back, Juwon Sanyaolu, disclosed to our correspondent on Sunday that the defendants can be arraigned right this moment (Monday).
He added the protesters would represented by Falana.
Sanyaolu mentioned, “Mass trial of another set of the protesters in Kano and Abuja will commence tomorrow (Monday). Femi Falana will be representing them.”
Meanwhile, some activists have petitioned the International Criminal Court and the United States of America Embassy, in search of the discharge of detained #EndBadgovernance protesters in Nigeria.
However, in a replica of the petition obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the activists, principally primarily based within the U.S., said that protesters are usually not the enemies of the nation.
The petition was signed by John Parker of the Harriet Tubman Centre for Social Justice, Los Angeles, CA; Sharon Black of Peoples Power Assembly, Washington, DC/Maryland/ Virginia USA; Maggie Vascassenno of Women in Struggle, Los Angeles, CA; and Andrew Mayton of Youth Against War & Racism, Baltimore, USA, amongst others.
It partly learn, “We are employees, college students and activists within the U.S., the imperialist big. We name on you to listen to the righteous calls for of the folks of the #EndBadGovernance motion.
“The protestors are usually not your enemy. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our comrades in Nigeria, preventing for an finish to poverty, unemployment and starvation.
“Tens of hundreds of Nigerians protested all through Nigeria August 1 – 10, 2024, to demand an finish to austerity measures which might be impoverishing the folks. The authorities forces shot reside ammunition into crowds of demonstrators, killing as much as 50 harmless Nigerians.
“Over 2,000 Nigerians were arrested in the 10-day period. The arrests are continuing with nighttime raids of homes of suspected activists. Release them all immediately!”
The activists additionally known as on the 2 organisations to prevail on the Federal Government to drop the costs in opposition to the protesters.
“We call on the government of Nigeria to immediately release all #EndBadGovernance detainees! Drop the trumped-up charges. End the continuing raids and detentions. Provide legal representation. Target the IMF & World Bank, not the people!” it added.
They additionally condemned the invasion of the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters, asking the police to return the supplies they took away.
The petition continued, “On August 7, authorities safety forces staged a nighttime raid ransacking the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, seizing printed supplies and different paperwork. Return the supplies and hand them off to the NLC.
“We stand in solidarity with the just demands of the people for jobs, lower prices of food and other essential items to live and support a family.”
The activists additionally supported the calls to finish measures allegedly imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They added that the measures impoverished employees within the USA.
“The calls for an end to the austerity measures imposed by the IMF and World Bank are justified. Here in the U.S., workers and the poor are also impoverished by the same banks that are hurting the people of Nigeria,” it added.