The Federal High Court in Abuja struck out all charges against 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters on Tuesday, November 5.
The protesters had been facing serious allegations, including treason felony and incitement to mutiny, following their participation in nationwide protests against perceived corruption and poor governance in the country.
The defendants were initially arraigned on Friday, November 1, in two separate batches.
The first batch consisted of 76 individuals, including 32 minors, while the second batch comprised 43 protesters.
The charges levied against them were in connection with their involvement in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance movement, which has gained significant traction across the country.
The trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the case following an application by the Attorney General of the Federation’s counsel, M. D. Abubakar, to discontinue the proceedings.
This move has been widely seen as a reprieve for the activists and has sparked a range of reactions from legal experts, human rights advocates, and political observers.
The decision to drop the charges comes amid mounting pressure from both domestic and international human rights organisations, which had condemned the arrest and detention of the protesters as politically motivated.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which have been taking place across various states, call for reforms in the political system and demand accountability from public officials.
Details of the court’s ruling and the motivations behind the decision to discontinue the case are still emerging.
However, the legal team representing the protesters welcomed the court’s decision, which they described as a victory for free speech and the right to peaceful assembly.
The case had drawn significant attention, with many seeing the charges as an overreach by the government in stifling dissent.
It remains to be seen whether the #EndBadGovernance movement will gain further momentum following this legal victory, or whether the government will continue to take a hard stance against protests.
More details will follow as the situation develops.
