Court Lowers Bail for #EndBadGovernance Protesters to N5 Million

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has reduced the bail for five #EndBadGovernance protesters to N5 million each. This follows the court’s previous bail decision on September 11, which set bail at N10 million per protester for all 10 defendants involved in the case.

The protesters had initially faced difficulties in meeting the original bail conditions, particularly the requirement of a surety with property in Abuja. Responding to an appeal by defence lawyers, Justice Nwite approved a reduction in bail for five of the defendants, granting them a total bail sum of N25 million. The revised conditions also require each defendant to present one surety, who must be a blood relative, such as a father or mother. If neither parent is available, another close relative residing within the court’s jurisdiction may be accepted.

The 10 defendants, including Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, and others, are facing charges of treason, conspiracy to commit felony, and inciting mutiny. These charges stem from allegations that the protesters attempted to forcefully enter government premises, damage public properties, and incite the public against the government during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations. Despite these allegations, all defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the Inspector General of Police.

The case continues as the legal process unfolds.