36 #EndBadGovernance Protesters Discharged, 35 Granted Bail, Awaits Court Decision

The Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN) and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria have successfully secured bail for 35 #EndBadGovernance protesters in Kano, as further court decisions are awaited.

This was made known in a recent statement by Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo of the Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN),  where he stated that over 70 #EndBadGovernance protesters had their cases heard at the Senior Magistrate Court No. 33 in Kano on September 12, 2024.

According to Yusha’u, a collective legal defense team comprising representatives from CEFSAN, the Nigerian Bar Association’s Ungogo and Kano branches, and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria supported the protesters during the proceedings.

“Today being the 12th day of September, 2024 the Senior Magistrate Court No. 33, Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano presided over by His Worship Hadiza Rabi’u Bello sat where the case of over 70 protesters was heard. The protesters were represented by a team of lawyers from Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ungogo Branch, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch and Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.”, Yusha’u stated.

He added that “Following the legal advise from the Office of the Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Kano State, 36 protesters were unconditionally discharged while 35 granted bail. The matter is adjourned to 9th October, 2024 for further mention.”

Yusha’u announced that the fate of additional #EndBadGovernance protesters will be determined on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 10 AM in Senior Magistrate Court No. 54, presided over by Ibrahim Abubakar Mansur at Goron Dutse Correctional Centre, Kano.

“Please be informed that the Senior Magistrate Court No. 54 presided over by His Worship Ibrahim Abubakar Mansur will be sitting tomorrow, Friday, 13th September, 2024 at Goron Dutse Correctional Centre, Kano at 10am where other protesters would know their fate.”

Earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 10 protesters arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, for their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests. 

Each defendant is required to provide a surety with landed property in Abuja and pay N10 million bail.

Comrades Eleojo Opaluwa, Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, aka Michael Lenin, Angel Innocent, Mosiu Sodiq, Adeyemi Abayomi, along with five others arrested for simply waving flags in Kano (Suleiman Yakubu, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello [Murtala], Nuradeen Khamis, Abdulsalam Zubairu) face a bail hearing at the Abuja court on Wednesday.

The young Nigerians have been languishing in Kuje Correctional Centre since September 2 shortly after their arraignment when the court turned down the oral application moved by their lawyers.

Justice Emeka Nwite while ruling on the bail application filed by their respective lawyers on Wednesday held that the offence for which the defendants are standing trial are bailable and they are entitled to bail.

He ordered that the surety must swear an affidavit of means and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must deposit the title documents of their property.

The court also held that the defendants must submit three passport photograph and their passports while restricting them from participating in any public rally. 

Meanwhile, counsel for the 1st – 4th defendants, Abubakar Marshal told the court that about 49 protesters were still being held in Kuje Correctional Centre on the order of the court.

The judge therefore adjourned the case to September 27 for the commencement of the trial.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *