By Seyi Babalola

The Federal Government is set to arraign some of the organisers of the recent EndBadGovernance protest before the Federal High Court in Abuja today (Monday).

In addition to the six counts filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government listed a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, as a defendant.

In the charge sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants were accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NCC in Kano,” among others.

The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.

The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, which began on August 1 and ended on August 10, were a response to people’ economic distress.

According to numbers released by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), 2,111 people were arrested on August 22, 2024, during the 10-day nationwide demonstration.

Falana noted that 1,403 of the apprehended individuals had been arraigned in court and remanded in prison due to a lack of legal representation.

In the charge sheet filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Federal Government named the defendants as Micheal Adaramoye (aka Lenin); Adeyemi Ahayomi (aka Yomi); Suleiman Yakubu; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo; Angel Innocent; Buhari Lawal; Mosiu Sadiq; Bashir Bello (aka Murtala); Nursdeen Khamis; Abdulsalam Zubairu; Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich); Lucky Obryan; Comrade Musa Abdollahi.

The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.

Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The IG also said, “Between 1 July 2024 and 4 August 2024, at Karshi Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, (defendants) conspired together to commit felony, to wit: Inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”

The IG added that the protesters, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, in collaboration with Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, waged war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings.

Egbetokun claimed the offense violated Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.

The defendants were also accused of collaborating with Wynne, a British citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, inciting public disturbance while carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other inscriptions to incite disaffection with the government.

The IG said they committed an offence contrary to Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.

The National Coordinator, Take It Back, Juwon Sanyaolu, disclosed to Punch on Sunday that the defendants would be arraigned today (Monday).

He stated that Falana will represent the protesters.

Sanyaolu said, “Mass trial of another set of the protesters in Kano and Abuja will commence tomorrow (Monday). Femi Falana will be representing them.”