Ten individuals involved in recent demonstrations against hunger and poor governance have been charged with treason at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to police reports.
The authorities allege that these individuals were part of a conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. This information comes from a charge sheet, dated August 30, 2024, submitted by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who is the complainant in this case.
The defendants include Michael Tobilola Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), 28; Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (Yomi), 34; Suleiman Yakubu, 28; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon (Bob-Simon), 50; Angel Love Innocent (Loveth), 51; Buhari Lawal, 21; Mosiu Sadiq, 28; Bashir Bello (Murtala), 51; Nuradeen Khamis, 47; and Abdulsalam Zubairu, 37.
Additional defendants mentioned in the charges are Andrew Martin Wynne (Andrew Povich), a 70-year-old British national; Lucky Ehis Obiyan; Comrade Musa Abdullahi; and several others who remain unidentified and at large.
These individuals were arrested across various regions of Nigeria during nationwide protests that took place from August 1 to 10, 2024, aimed at addressing issues of hunger and poor governance.
The first count in the charges alleges that the defendants conspired to commit treason between July 1 and August 4, 2024, in Karshi, Abuja, with the intent of destabilizing Nigeria, an offense punishable under Sections 96 and 97 of the Penal Code.
The third count asserts that, between July 1 and August 10, 2024, the defendants plotted to wage war against the state, leading to attacks on police officers and public buildings in various states, including Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe. This action is alleged to violate Section 410 of the Penal Code.
Lastly, the fourth count accuses the defendants of inciting mutiny from July 1 to August 10, 2024, by calling for military intervention against President Tinubu while participating in riots across multiple states. This behavior contravenes Section 413 of the Penal Code.
