Some of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre after being charged with treason.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered their remand awaiting the hearing and decision on their bail plea, scheduled for September 11, 2024.
The judge set the date for Monday after they pleaded not guilty to the six-count allegation bordering on terrorism levied by the federal government against them.
The Federal Government arraigned some of the organisers of the recent hunger demonstration before the Federal High Court in Abuja today (Monday).
In addition to the six counts filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government listed a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, as a defendant.
The defendants were accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President, and destroying the NCC in Kano,” among other things, in the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/.
However, in a statement made on Monday, Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, blasted the Nigerian government’s handling of the matter, calling the trial a transparent attempt to punish dissent and silence critical voices.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters arraigned nationwide today are only going to be subjected to another round of the government’s unrelenting efforts to punish protesters and demonise protests,” said Sanusi.
Sanusi further emphasised the gravity of the charges levelled against the demonstrators, including treason, which carries the death penalty, and claims of a “plan to destabilise Nigeria.” He called the allegations “blatantly true” and demanded their immediate withdrawal.
He described these charges as “blatantly trumped up” and called for their immediate withdrawal.
“These are blatantly trumped-up charges that must be immediately withdrawn,” he asserted.
Amnesty International berated the nature of the trials, condemning them as a sham even before they had begun.
The organisation called for an immediate end to what it described as “endless bizarre attempts” to deprive citizens of their right to protest peacefully.
“We condemn the sham trials even before they begin and call for an end to these endless bizarre attempts to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest,” Sanusi stated.
“We condemn the sham trials even before they begin and call for an end to these endless bizarre attempts to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest,” Sanusi stated.
