If Nigerians were told that a citizen of the country would be remanded for protesting, trust us, they would have called it a bluff.
After all, the Nigerian constitution allows citizens the right to hold protests.
But guess what?
It happened before their very eyes.
This drama began in August.
Nigerians had made do with their threat of a nationwide protest.
This protest, tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria rocked almost every state in Nigeria as citizens stormed the streets.
For ten days, Nigerians cried and sang, and some even died in the process when the protest turned violent.
Some who managed to survive ended up in police custody.
The Shocker
These protesters were arraigned in court on Monday, September 2.
That was when Nigerians received the shocker.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which was presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday, remanded the #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned before it in prison.
Justice Nwite ordered the arrested protesters to be remanded in Kuje and Suleja prisons pending the hearing and ruling on their bail application slated for September 11, 2024.
The male protesters were remanded in Kuje while the female protester was remanded in the Suleja prison.
The Judge gave the ruling after hearing the charges brought against the accused persons by the federal government.
Protesters Vs FG
The ten arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters were taken to court over charges including treasonable felony and a “plan to destabilise Nigeria.”
The protesters were charged before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge.
The charges against the protesters, who were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, included an attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 of this year during the nationwide protests.
Also Read: Drama As #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protesters Face Trial
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who brought the charges against them, alleged that the accused broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.
The IGP also alleged that they allegedly burned a police station and injured police officers.
They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties, including police stations, a High Court complex, and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe, among other locations.
The latest development has sparked outrage among Nigerians.
In fact, many are calling for another protest to demand the immediate release of the protesters.
