Federal High Court Grants Bail Variation to Five #EndBadGovernance Protesters
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a bail variation request for five #EndBadGovernance protesters, setting their bail at N5 million each.
This decision follows a previous ruling on September 11, when the court granted bail for all ten protesters in a total sum of N100 million.
The protesters had faced challenges in meeting the stringent bail conditions, which included providing a surety with landed property in Abuja. In delivering the ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite had originally set the bail at N10 million for each defendant, along with a surety in the same amount.
Due to the difficulties faced by some of the protesters in fulfilling these requirements, defense lawyers sought a variation of the bail terms for five of the defendants. The court granted this request, allowing bail for the five defendants in a total sum of N25 million.
Justice Nwite stipulated that the surety must be a blood relative, specifically a parent; if neither parent is available, other blood relatives residing within the jurisdiction can serve as sureties.
The ten defendants Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nurudeen Khamis, and Abduldalam Zubair are facing six counts related to alleged treason, conspiracy, and incitement to mutiny, offenses punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The Nigerian Government has accused the protesters of attempting to breach the seat of power, burning police stations, injuring officers, and inciting public unrest against the government, alongside causing damage to various public properties, including a High Court complex and National Communication Commission facilities. All ten defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the Inspector General of Police.
