The Nigeria Police Force has charged ten #EndBadGovernance protesters with an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
According to reports, the charges were filed in the Federal High Court in Abuja, as detailed in charge sheet FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, dated August 30, 2024. Reports also state that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is the complainant in the case.
The defendants in the suit include:
Michael Tobilola Adaramoye (aka Lenin), 28 years
Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (aka Yomi), 34 years
Suleiman Yakubu, 28 years
Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon (aka Bob-Simon), 50 years
Angel Love Innocent (aka Loveth), 51 years
Buhari Lawal, 21 years
Mosiu Sadiq, 28 years
Bashir Bello (aka Murtala), 51 years
Nuradeen Khamis, 47 years
Abdulsalam Zubairu, 37 years
Also listed are Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), a 70-year-old British citizen; Lucky Ehis Obiyan; Comrade Musa Abdullahi; and others who are currently at large.
The suspects were arrested during the nationwide protests against hunger and poor governance that occurred from August 1 to 10, 2024.
According to Count One of the charges, the defendants conspired to commit treason between July 1 and August 4, 2024, in Karshi, Abuja FCT, with the intent to destabilize Nigeria. This is an offense under Section 96, punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
Count Three alleges that from July 1 to August 10, 2024, in various locations including Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, the defendants levied war against the state by attacking police officers, burning police stations, and damaging government and other buildings. This offense is under Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
Count Four charges that from July 1 to August 10, 2024, in multiple states, the defendants conspired to destabilize Nigeria and incited mutiny by calling for a military takeover of the government. This is an offense under Section 413 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
This development follows a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on August 20, 2024, which ordered the freezing of bank accounts linked to the defendants pending the investigation and prosecution of the case.
