Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted a bail variation for five #EndBadGovernance protesters. Each of the arraigned 10 protesters had been granted N10 million by Justice Nwite on 11 September, but he has now reduced it N5 million each.
The five #EndBadGovernance protesters, who were previously remanded in prison by the Federal Government, have struggled to meet the original bail conditions.
Counsel for the first, second, and fourth defendants, Barrister Marshall Abubakar said that some of the protesters had been unable to secure a surety with landed property in Abuja, which is one of the bail requirements.
In granting the initial bail of N10 million eacg, Justice Nwite ruled: “The bail is hereby granted to the defendants in the sum of N10 million each with one surety in the same amount”.
The court required that the sureties be residents of Abuja, own property in the city, and deposit their property documents with the court registrar. Additionally, the sureties were required to swear to an affidavit of means, and both the defendants and sureties were to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the registrar.
Justice Nwite ruled that the protesters would remain in custody until they met the bail conditions.
The defence lawyers later appealed the bail terms, particularly for the five defendants unable to meet the requirements. Following their application, Justice Nwite reduced the bail sum to N25 million in total for the five protesters requesting the variation.
The new conditions set by the court are for N5 million bail each, with one surety in the same amount. The surety must be a close relative — specifically a father or mother, or another blood relative residing within the jurisdiction if neither parent is available.
The 10 defendants — 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 — are facing six counts, including treason, conspiracy to commit a felony, inciting mutiny, and attempting to destabilise Nigeria, all offences punishable under Section 97 of the penal code.
They are accused of attempting to force their way into the seat of power, burning down a police station, and injuring officers. The Federal Government also claims they incited the public against the government and destroyed public properties, including a police station, the High Court complex, and National Communications Commission facilities.
The 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the Inspector General of Police.
