A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday granted 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters a bail of the sum of N10 million each. The judgment which was read by the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite said the criminal justice system of Nigeria has its stipulations regarding the prosecutor and the defendant.
He said, “I have carefully considered the counsel’s submission on both divides. I at this moment grant the defendants bail notwithstanding the crime.
“The bail is hereby granted to the defendants applicant in the sum of N10m each and one surety in like some.”
The court also ruled that the sureties must be residents in Abuja, must own properties in Abuja and are to also deposit documents of the properties to the court registrar as well as swearing to affidavit of means.
The court further ruled that the sureties and defendants must deposit their international passport and also 3 recent passport photographs with the court registrar.
Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants be returned to prison, pending when they perfect their bail conditions and also ordered that the defendants avoid participation in any public rally or protests during their trial and scheduled September 27 for the commencement of their trial.
The defendants are 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.
They are accused of allegedly committing treasonable offence during the nationwide EndBadGovernance protests, which is contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.
The defendants are also accused of inciting the Nigerian public against the government and also destroying several public facilities such as police stations etc.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to all charges leveled against them.