The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will, on Friday, November 1, 2024, arraign more suspects before a Federal High Court in Abuja over 10-count charges bordering on felony, inciting mutiny, attacking and injuring Policemen, arson, and inciting public disturbance during the August nationwide anti-hardship protests, offences contrary to relevant sections of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act CAP P3 2004 and punishable under relevant sections of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Also, to be arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu is 70-year-old Andrew Martin Wynne (a.k.a Andrew Povich), a British national, who has been declared wanted by the Police, for the same offences.
LEADERSHIP recalls that Nigerians trooped to the streets to stage anti-hardship protests with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance in some parts of the country over the prevailing economic hardship between August 1 and 10, 2024.
The 81 Defendants and others at large were accused of committing the offences between July 31 and August 4 during the #EndBadGovernance protests at different locations in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna States.
According to the court papers obtained by LEADERSHIP, count three of the charge specifically states that the 81 Defendants and others at large “with intent to destabilise Nigeria levies war against the state in order to intimidate or overawed the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.”
They were also accused of committing offences, which include calling for military takeover of a democratically elected government under President Bola Tinubu, chanting ‘Tinubu Must Go’ songs, rioting, wearing and displaying Russian flags, among others.
But, Counsel to the Defendants, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, has pointed out that the majority of the accused persons were minors.
Adeyanju, in a message sent to LEADERSHIP on Friday morning, lamented that the trial of the protesters will commence after being subjected to detention for about 80 days.
“After detaining END BAD GOVERNANCE protesters for almost 80 days, clueless Tinubu government set to arraign more protesters who are largely minors as can be seen on the charge herein annexed on November 1st in Abuja.
“The protesters mainly minors are to be arraigned on the 1st of November, 2024 before Hon Justice EGWUATU, Court 10, 4th floor, Federal High Court, Abuja Division,” Barr. Adeyanju stated.
