Protesters arrested during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria demonstrations are scheduled to be tried starting Monday, September 2, 2024, in various courts across Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Borno. The protests, which took place over ten days, were against hunger and misgovernance in Nigeria.
Court Proceedings and Legal Defense
In Abuja, the protesters will appear before Justice Emeka Nwite’s court. Human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) will lead the defense team, representing the detained protesters.
Amnesty International’s Stance
Amnesty International Nigeria has reported that over 2,000 protesters were arrested nationwide during the demonstrations. The organization has called for the unconditional release of those arrested, emphasizing that the government should address the underlying issues that led to the protests. According to Amnesty International, out of the 2,111 individuals detained, 1,403 have already been arraigned in various courts.
The organization expressed concern that many of the suspects were ordered to be remanded in prison custody due to a lack of legal representation.
Previous Court Orders
Last Sunday, SaharaReporters revealed that Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had granted a police request to remand 124 protesters in custody for 60 days pending the completion of investigations. The court’s interim order, issued in response to ex-parte motions filed by police counsel Ibrahim Mohammed, allows for the suspects’ continued detention.
Notably, the court directed that minor suspects be held at the Borstal Home of the correctional center until investigations are concluded. Some of the detained protesters, including minors, have been accused of terrorism and treasonable felonies.
Legal Basis for Detention
The interim order for the remand of the suspects was sought by the Inspector-General of Police under Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, Section 35(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Section 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. The request was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite under the inherent jurisdiction of the court to administer justice.
Implications of the Trial
The arrest and upcoming trial of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters highlight significant concerns about governance in Nigeria. The situation reflects ongoing issues of constitutional disregard among political leaders and underscores the urgent need for a government that prioritizes the welfare of its citizens. Protesting is a right enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution; denying this right is a violation of global democratic standards.
