A Lagos State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ogba has convicted six individuals—Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Usseni, and Azeez Isiaka—who were arrested by the police during the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Lagos.

Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi delivered the judgment after the accused pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of causing a breach of the peace, brought against them by the state government.

However, the court released them on the grounds that they had already spent more time in custody than the stipulated punishment for the offence.

The offence of causing a breach of the peace carries a maximum punishment of three months imprisonment or a fine of ₦15,000.

When the case was heard on Thursday, the prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, informed Magistrate Osunsanmi that they had amended the charge against the defendants and requested the court to take their plea.

The charge read, “That you, Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Usseni, and Azeez Isiaka, on the 23rd day of November 2020, at about 12:00hrs at Ebute Metta, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 168(d) of the Lagos State Law of Nigeria 2015.”

After the charge was read to them, the defendants pleaded guilty, prompting Martins to urge the court to sentence them according to the law under which they were charged.

However, the defence counsel, Tajudeen Ojeshino, appealed to the court for leniency, stating, “My lord, I plead with the court to temper justice with mercy, as the defendants are first-time offenders. Some of them are breadwinners for their families and are still very young. They have already spent four years in prison and have learned their lessons.”

The Magistrate asked the defendants if they understood the nature of the charge and the court’s obligation to impose the maximum sentence. They affirmed that they did.

In her ruling, the Magistrate convicted the defendants but ordered their release, considering the time they had already spent in custody. She also warned them against engaging in any criminal activity in the future.