BREAKING: Court Sets Strict Terms For #EndBadGovernance Protesters, Grants N10m Bail Each
he Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 76 protesters who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest held in August 2024.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, presiding over the case on Friday, granted each of the defendants N10 million bail.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu specified that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum.
He added that one of the sureties must be a civil servant of grade level 15 or higher, with a verifiable address within the court’s jurisdiction, while the other surety must be a parent of the protester involved.
Earlier, Ibom Focus reported that the Nigerian government temporarily withdrew charges against five minors facing trial over their involvement in #EndBadGovernance protests after they slumped in the courtroom.
The minors, who had been detained in custody for several weeks, showed visible signs of ill health, and their condition reportedly deteriorated during the court proceedings, prompting immediate medical intervention.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as harrowing, with some lawyers rushing to assist the youths, who slumped after being asked to enter the dock.
Following the incident, the prosecution requested for the temporary withdrawal of the charges.
This was granted by the court, which noted that the minors would be re-arraigned after their recovery.
“A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment, they have not eaten for some days,” a source told SaharaReporters, accusing the authorities of weaponising hunger to torture the protesters for committing no offence other than exercising their constitutional rights.
One of the malnourished minors first slumped before four others also collapsed on the floor of the courtroom.
The court was thrown into confusion when the defendants who were mainly minors were asked to enter the dock.
Some lawyers and court officials hurriedly revived the minors before they were rushed to the hospital. The situation temporarily halted the court proceedings.
Following the incident, the prosecution requested to temporarily withdraw the charges against them on health grounds in line with Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The defence counsel, Abubakar Marshal, insisted that the minors should be handed over to their parents.
The Network of Abuja Left Groups on Thursday called for the immediate and unconditional release of 76 protesters, including 32 minors, who were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in August.
The coalition lamented that the protesters have been languishing in prison custody for months. It condemned President Tinubu’s administration for its suppression of dissenting voices.
