The Federal Government is set to arraign several leaders and organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, 2024, in multiple Nigerian cities. The protesters face charges of treason, inciting mutiny, and attempting to destabilise the nation.

Among the ten individuals due to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court are Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent. The others include Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed a six-count charge against the defendants, which also names a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, alias Andrew Povich, as a co-defendant. The charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, accuses the defendants of treason, conspiring to destabilise the country, intimidating the President, and destroying the National Communications Commission (NCC) headquarters in Kano, among other allegations.

According to the IG, the defendants acted in concert between July 1 and August 4, 2024, with the intent to destabilise the country and commit treason, an offence contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

“Between July 1 and August 4, 2024, at Karshi, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, the defendants conspired together to incite mutiny, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code,” the IG stated.

Egbetokun further accused the protesters of waging war against the state in collaboration with Wynne, a British citizen, between July 1 and August 10, 2024. He alleged that the group attacked and injured police officers, set fire to police stations, and damaged several government buildings, including the High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House in Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) office.

The defendants are also accused of inciting public disaffection against the government by carrying placards with anti-government slogans during the protests, an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.