…Accuses 70-year old Briton of instigating mutiny
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that 10 individuals, arrested during the recent #Endbadgovernance protests, should be remanded in both Suleja and Keffi prisons in Niger and Nasarawa states.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Monday, also instructed that the only female among them – Angel Love Innocent (51 years) be remanded in Suleja prison (Niger State), while the nine, who are male, should be kept in Keffi prison (Nasarawa States).
The nine male defendants are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye (Lenin), 28yrs; Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (Yomi), 34 yrs; Suleiman Yakubu, 28 yrs; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, 50 yrs; Buhari Lawal, 21 yrs; Mosiu Sadiq, 28 yrs; Bashir Bello (aka Murtala), 51 yrs; Nurudeen Khamis, 47 yrs; and Abduldalam Zubair, 37 yrs.
Justice Nwite ordered that the 10 defendants are to remain in custody until September 11 when the court plans to determine the bail applications.
The judge ordered the remand of the defendants shortly after they were arraigned on a six-count charge brought against them by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The defendants are, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, accused of among others, conspiring to commit treason, inciting violence, attacking public institutions, and instigating mutiny against the Nigerian government.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which defence lawyers, Marshal Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju applied for bail orally.
Abubakar and Adeyanju stressed the constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to bail and the presumption of innocence until the contrary is proved.
Lawyer to the prosecution, Simon Lough (SAN) opposed the bail applications and urged the court to instead, grant an accelerated hearing.
Lough stressed the gravity of the offences charged, particularly, mutiny, which he claimed was aimed at changing a democratic government by force through incitement and involvement of a British national against Nigeria.
After listening to layers of parties, Justice Nwite adjourned till September 11 to rule on the bail applications.
The defendants were, in count one alleged to have worked with others now at large between 1st July, 2024 to 4 August 2024 at Karshi, Abuja, FCT, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilize Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony, to wit: Treason and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
In count two, they were accused of acting with others, now at large, between 1st July 2024 to 4th August 2024 at Karshi, Abuja FCT, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilize Nigeria conspired together to commit a felony to wit: inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
In count three, it was alleged that the defendants “And others now at large between 1st July, 2024 to 10th August 2024 in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen), with intent to destabilized Nigeria, levies war against the state to intimidate or overawe the president by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court complex, NCC complex.
“Kano Printing Press, Government House, Kano; Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.”
They were alleged, in count four, of acting with others now at large, between 1st July, 2024 to 10th August 2024 in Nyanya, Abuja; Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, and many other states, while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen with intent to destabilized Nigeria, incited to mutiny by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by chanting ‘Tinubu most go,’ soja muskeso,’ meaning Tinubu must go, it is military we want, while rioting and disturbing public peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 413 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.
In count five, they were said to have worked with others now at large, “Between 1st July 2024 and 10th August 2024 in Abuja, FCT; Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina and many other states, while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen, with intent to destabilized Nigeria, incited disaffection to the government by inciting public disturbance while carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other inscriptions to incite disaffection to the government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.”
They were, in count six, said to have “Between 1st July, 2024 and 10th August 2024 in Abuja, FCT; Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen, with intent to destabilized Nigeria, and to remove, otherwise than by constitutional means, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, mobilized your members to force their way into Abacha Army Barrack, Government House Kano, destroyed High Court, Printing Press and NCC Complexes Kano, and attacked and injured police officers in Nyanya and burnt down police stations and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 412 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.”
