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#EndBadGovernance protest: 2 months after, 723 arrested in Abuja, 830 charged in Kano

TWO months after the #EndBadGovernance Protest that rocked Nigeria in August 2024, it has been gathered that 723 protesters arrested in Abuja and those charged to court in Kano are still struggling to meet their bail conditions.

The ICIR gathered from Hope Behind Bars (HBB) Africa, a non-governmental organisation working to close the justice gap using early intervention and advocacy, that about 723 protesters arrested in Abuja and 830 charged to court in Kano form the larger bulk of protesters who are still detained.

As of October 1, most of the detained protesters from the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria—some of them charged with treason, which carries a possible death penalty—are either awaiting prosecution or struggling to meet up with their bail conditions.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) puts the number of those arrested across the country in relation to the protest at 1,200, while some media reports put the number at over 2400. 

The genesis of the #EndBadGovernance Protest

In August, many Nigerians trooped to the streets to protest poor governance and economic hardships which were said to have been caused or increased by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms.

The protests were marred with violence, largely caused by the security operatives in places like Lagos and Abuja, where protesters were subjected to tear gas and harassment.

The tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.

Protesters at Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota Lagos. The ICIR
Protesters at Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota Lagos. The ICIR

Journalists attacked during protest

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At least 56 journalists were also attacked by security forces or unidentified citizens while covering the #EndBadGovernance protest, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said.

The CPJ noted in a report that documentation of the incidents, based on interviews, local reports, and verified media, highlighted significant dangers reporters face during protests in many African countries and the failure of authorities to protect journalists.

Protesters being teargassed at Eagle Square Abuja
Protesters and journalists being teargassed at Eagle Square, Abuja

The report stated that out of the 56 journalists attacked during the protest, all worked for privately owned media, except one from government-owned radio station.

Protesters arrested

The government resisted the protest with its agencies and at the end of the demonstrations, it was observed that many of the young Nigerians who protested against the hardship bestowed on them have been thrown into one detention centre or another.

According to Hope Behind Bars, Africa 723 protesters were arrested in Abuja and 830 were charged to court in Kano State.

Despite objections by lawyers, civil society organisations (CSOs), and human rights activists over the Nigerian authorities’ intolerance for dissent, the government has refused to drop charges against the protesters.

FCT

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), about 723 protesters were arrested, 140 of them arrested on the first day of the protest on August 1.

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According to HBB Africa, there is no accurate data on the exact number that has been charged to court.

#EndBadGovernance: SSS arrests Michael Lenin protest leader in Abuja
Michael Lenin, one of the protesters arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest in Abuja

Kano

The situation in Kano is worrisome, with over 850 arrested and 830 charged to court.

According to HBB Africa, about 62 have been convicted for offences ranging from arson to disturbing public peace.

They were convicted with the option of a fine, which many of them have not been able to afford.

Many of them were transferred to the police headquarters in Abuja; among them were those waving Russian flags during the protests.

The Kano protesters face charges including treason, destabilising the country, and intimidating the President, as stated in the charge sheet FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024.

They are accused of conspiring to commit a felony between July 1 and August 4, 2024.

A lawyer with Hope Behind Bars Africa, Idowu Olukade, said the plight of Kano protesters was made worse because the state government has shown bias in the matter.

According to him, this was because the court complex in Kano was among the places destroyed by miscreants during the protest.

He added that the chambers of the judges were also destroyed during the incident.

Olukade stated that when Hope Behind Bars and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) went to meet with the Chief Judge of Kano State to discuss the plight and the condition of the inmates he did not grant them an audience but rather directed them to the chief registrar.

“So the belief among legal circles is that the stringent bail conditions given by the magistrates were a punitive measure for the destruction of the high court complex,” the lawyer stated.

Hope Behind Bars team and members ofthe Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) meeting with Kano state officials to discuss the plight of the protesters
Hope Behind Bars team and members ofthe Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) meeting with Kano state officials to discuss the plight of the protesters

Court grants 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters N100m bail

On September 11, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted bail in the sum of N10 million each to 10 protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in Abuja.

The protesters appeared in court on Wednesday, September 11, on different charges, including treason, after the case was initially adjourned on September 2. 

The protesters were tried for treason, inciting mutiny, and intent to destabilise Nigeria.

The protesters arraigned before Emeka Nwite, a judge, 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 six counts were filed by the inspector-general of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

During the hearing, the presiding judge, Nwite, agreed with the submission made by Abubakar Marshall, counsel for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants, stating that “anybody charged with a criminal offence must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”.

Nwite said he has carefully considered the submission of the counsel on both divides. “The bail is hereby granted to the defendant applicant in the sum of N10m each and one surety in like sum,” Nwite stated.

Most protesters can’t afford the bail money—Olukade

According to Olukade, the majority of those arrested have not been able to pay the bail money and still languish in various detention centres across the country.

“Hope behind Bars was actively involved in their representation so we have first-hand information. They are all poor people; their best bet at an early release is to plead guilty and get sentenced with the option of fine,” Olukade stated.

Global Rights kick against continuous detention of #EndBadGovernance protesters

Speaking on the condition of the protesters in a chat with The ICIR, the programme manager of Global Rights, Edosa Oviawe said the continuous detention of protesters in Nigeria, especially when they are expressing legitimate concerns such as hunger, raises serious human rights and legal concerns.

According to him, peaceful protest is a fundamental right enshrined in international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in Nigeria’s own Constitution (Section 40), which guarantees citizens the freedom of assembly and expression.

He said the act of peaceful protest is not a crime but a democratic right and a crucial means for citizens to express grievances and hold governments accountable.



He described the imposition of a N10 million bail for each of the protester as highly excessive and disproportionate, especially considering the context of their protest against hunger and economic hardship.

“Such bail conditions could be seen as punitive and discouraging to the broader population from exercising their rights. Moreso, excessive bail contradicts the principle of justice, which calls for reasonable conditions that reflect the alleged offence.




     

     

    “This action is certainly an attempt to suppress dissent, creating a chilling effect on public demonstrations, which are essential in a functioning democracy,” Oviawe stated.

    As for the way forward, he said the Government should, as a first step, immediately and unconditionally release the protesters and ensure that any charges brought against them are transparent and justifiable within the confines of the law.

    He urged the legal system to strive for fairness and set reasonable bail conditions for the detained protesters if necessary.

    He also called on the National Assembly to rise to the occasion to introduce broader legal reform by enacting legislation like the Human Rights Defenders Law to ensure that peaceful protests are not criminalised and civic spaces remain open for dialogue.

    Bankole Abe

    A reporter with the ICIR
    A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance

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