Abuja, September 11, 2024 — Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to ten members of the #EndBadGovernance protests, who face serious charges including attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Each protester has been granted bail in the sum of N10 million. The decision came as Justice Nwite ruled on the bail applications filed by the defendants’ legal representatives.
The protesters, who were arrested in connection with their activities between July 1 and August 4, 2024, were granted bail under stringent conditions. Justice Nwite stipulated that the defendants must each provide a surety who is a property owner in Abuja.
The sureties are required to deposit property documents with the court and to swear an affidavit of means. “The protesters must produce sureties who must be property owners in Abuja and must deposit documents of the properties to the court in addition to swearing to affidavit of means,” Justice Nwite said.
In a further measure, each defendant must also present one surety based in Abuja who will need to deposit their international passport and three recent passport photographs with the court. “Both the defendants and the sureties must deposit their international passports and three recent passport photographs with the Court,” Justice Nwite added.
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The court’s ruling comes despite objections raised by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who had opposed the bail applications.
Justice Nwite, however, overruled these objections and imposed additional restrictions on the defendants. “The defendants are ordered not to participate in any public rally throughout their trial,” the judge ebmphasized. This restriction aims to prevent further disruptions during the legal proceedings.
Pending the fulfillment of these bail conditions, the accused individuals will remain in prison custody. The trial is set to begin on September 27, 2024. The defendants are charged with serious offenses including treason, inciting violence, attacking public institutions, and instigating mutiny against the Nigerian government. These charges were formally read to the defendants on September 2, 2024, under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024.
The accused, who have all pleaded not guilty, are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye (28), Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (34), Suleiman Yakubu (28), Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon (50), Buhari Lawal (21), Mosiu Sadiq (28), Bashir Bello (aka Murtala) (51), Nurudeen Khamis (47), and Abduldalam Zubair (37).
Their bail was granted following comprehensive arguments presented by their lawyers, Marshal Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju. The legal team had argued for their release pending trial, which Justice Nwite has now approved under the outlined conditions.
