A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered that 10 members of the #endbadgovernance protesters be remanded in prison till September 11.
They were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on charges bordering on attempt to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 this year.
The accused persons were said to have committed the treasonable offence during their one week nationwide protests when they allegedly waged war again Nigeria.
The offences were said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.
In the charge brought against them by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the federal government alleged that the accused persons broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.
He also alleged that they attempted to force their way into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down police station and injured police officers.
They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties comprising Police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.
Police also claimed that a 70- year old British citizen, Andrew Martin Wynne now at large was largely responsible for instigating mutiny against the Nigerian government.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Gombe among others.
But when the charges were read to them,.the accused persons: Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair pleaded not guilty..
Upon their denial of the allegations, Counsel for the IGP, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) asked Justice Emeka Nwite to remand the accused persons in prison pending their trial.
However, counsel to the defendants moved oral applications for bail of the accused persons.
Marshall Abubakar, who stood for four of the defendants, cited authorities to justify his oral application for his bail, adding that the Federal High Court in the treasonable charges against a politician, MKO Abiola allowed oral application and admitted him to bail.
Justice Nwite while making his pronouncement ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje prison in Abuja and Suleja prison in Niger State and adjourned ruling in their bail applications till September 11
.webp)