Crime

Court Approves 60-Day Remand for 124 #EndBadGovernance Protesters

Published by admin on August 28th, 2024.

Court Approves 60-Day Remand for 124 #EndBadGovernance Protesters

Protesters

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the police’s request to remand 124 individuals arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests for 60 days while investigations continue.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the interim orders in separate rulings on ex-parte motions filed by Ibrahim Mohammed, legal representative for the Inspector-General of Police. The ruling allows the suspects to be detained until the investigation is concluded.

The court also ordered that minors among the suspects be held at the Borstal Home within the correctional facility.

The first motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1154/2024 and filed on August 14, directs the remand of the suspects until the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) provides legal guidance. The police have charged 75 protesters, aged between 14 and 34, with serious offenses including terrorism and treason.

Suspects include individuals such as Abubakar Ibrahim (18), Abubakar Adam (19), Suleiman Ali (16), and others. They are accused of committing acts that violate the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the Criminal Code Act, the Penal Code Act, and other relevant statutes.

Elizabeth Ogochukwu, a Litigation Secretary at the Police Force Headquarters, detailed in an affidavit that credible intelligence indicated a planned violent uprising against both state and federal governments. The planned unrest, believed to be orchestrated by terrorist groups, reportedly caused significant disruption and damage.

The affidavit also noted that many suspects were found with Russian flags and other incriminating materials. Ogochukwu emphasized that further investigations are required to apprehend all involved parties and gather complete evidence.

In a second motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1223/2024, Justice Nwite ordered another 49 defendants to be held for 60 days, with underage suspects also being placed in the Borstal Home. The case will be reviewed again on October 23.

Ibrahim Mohammed, the lawyer for the Inspector-General, alleged that the defendants were involved in terrorism financing and supporting foreign nationals in attempts to overthrow the government. Detective Gregory Woje from the Force Criminal Investigation Department supported these claims, citing evidence of recruitment by financiers aimed at causing chaos and destruction.

The list of defendants includes individuals such as Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo, Michael Adaramuye, and several others, who face accusations of terrorism financing, criminal conspiracy, and related crimes.