By Gbenga Ojikutu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters standing trial for alleged treason and attempting to destabilise the country.
The Federal Government, through the Inspector-General (IG) of Police, arraigned the defendants in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 filed on Aug. 30.
The defendants include Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis and Abdusalam Zubairu.
They were charged with treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit a felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
Some youths staged a nationwide protest against economic hardship between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10 in the country.
The demonstration turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.
On September 2, during arraignment before presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, they pleaded not guilty.
Although the defendants had applied for bail through their different lawyers, Nwite ordered their remand in prison custody pending a ruling on the application on September 11.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Nwite Nwite granted them bail while on the applications filed and argued by lawyers to the 10 protesters.
Other conditions to be met by the 10 defendants, according to the judge, is to produce one surety each in like sum, while the sureties must be resident in Abuja
The sureties must have landed property in Abuja, produce documents of the properties, and submit them to court.
“I have carefully considered the submissions of counsel from both sides. The bail is hereby granted to the defendants in the sum of N10 million each, with one surety in like sum”, Justice Nwite held.
