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Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, granted bail to 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters, setting a total bail sum of N760 million, with two sureties for each defendant.
The judge specified that one of the sureties must be a Level 15 civil servant, while the other should be a parent of the respective defendant.
He further instructed the sureties to submit their letters of last promotion, letters of appointment, means of identification, and verified addresses to the court. Additionally, the sureties were to deposit their international passports with the court registrar, along with passport photographs, and swear an affidavit of means.
Justice Egwuatu stated, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties in like sum. One of them must be a Level 15 civil servant and the other a parent to the defendant.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, arraigned the defendants on 10 counts, including treason, incitement to mutiny by urging the military to remove President Bola Tinubu and other related charges. All 76 defendants pleaded not guilty.
Earlier, as the defendants were brought to the courtroom, four of them – the 8th, 66th, 69th, and 49th defendants – collapsed while moving to the dock. They lay on the floor in pain, prompting lawyers and prison officers to assist them out of the courtroom.
Justice Egwuatu, observing the incident, momentarily left the courtroom, returning shortly afterwards.
Prosecuting counsel Audu Garba informed the court that the matter was set for arraignment, noting that some defendants were waiting outside due to limited courtroom space. Justice Egwuatu insisted that space be created to accommodate all defendants.
The prosecution requested the court to strike out the names of the four ill defendants and discharge them until they recover and can return to court.
Defence counsel Marshall Abubakar appealed for their discharge and acquittal, citing their ill health and lack of food over the past three days.
The prosecution countered this claim, arguing that the defendants had been adequately cared for since their detention in August 2024. However, the prosecution did not oppose their bail application and deferred to the court’s discretion.
Consequently, the court discharged the four sick defendants – Umar Yunusa, Usman Suraju, Musa Isiyaku, and Abdul Ganiu – pending their recovery but refused to acquit them. Justice Egwuatu ordered that adult defendants be held in Kuje Correctional Centre until their bail terms are met, while minors under 18 are to be sent to Borstal Centre in Gwagwalada.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case to 24 January for a substantive hearing.
The 76 defendants, arrested across Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, were protesting economic hardship. Among them, 32 are minors aged 14 to 17.
The charges include conspiracy to commit treason, with Count One, alleging, “Between 31 July 2024 and 4 August 2024, at Abuja FCT and Kano metropolis within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony to wit: treason, contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”
Following the proceedings, another 43 protesters were presented in court, facing similar charges. Only 42 appeared, as one defendant was unwell and granted administrative bail. The court granted bail for the 43 on the same terms as the 76 protesters.
(Punch)
