No Bail No Lawyers: 1,423 Protesters Imprisoned in #End Bad Governance Protest
The recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests have ended, but their impact will be felt for a while. Many protesters, especially in the North, have been arrested and are now in prison awaiting trial, which might be delayed due to slow court processes.
These individuals are considered ‘prisoners-awaiting-trial’. Although the law requires suspects to be taken to court within 48 hours of arrest, there’s no clear evidence that the #EndBadGovernance protesters received legal representation or bail during their arraignment.
For example, in Kano State, out of 832 protesters arrested, none were granted bail and all were sent to prison. The situation is similar in Plateau State, where 51 suspects were arrested and charged without legal representation or bail.
In Katsina State, 64 out of 120 arrested protesters had legal representation, and bail was secured for 30 of them. The remaining 90 were held in prison, though their lawyers are hopeful for their release soon.
In Sokoto, many of the 110 arrested protesters are still in custody after being quickly remanded by a mobile court. Some were fined between N130,000 and N150,000, while others remain in correctional facilities.
A survey across 11 states revealed that 1,423 protesters were arrested and charged, with charges ranging from criminal conspiracy to arson. Some protesters were accused of displaying Russian flags, and they were sent to Abuja for further investigation.
Despite the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) promising to provide legal aid, they did not appear in any courts where protesters were arraigned. However, NBA’s Human Rights Institute is intervening for those who were mistreated by security forces at the protests.
The protests, held from August 1 to 10, were organized by youth groups to address economic issues and hunger. While many protests were peaceful, some turned violent, especially in Northern states, leading to property damage and loss of life. The police have labeled many arrested individuals as ‘rioters,’ though some dispute this claim.
In Kano, police arrested 832 suspects for various offenses, including displaying Russian flags and looting. Similarly, other states like Kaduna, Plateau, and Katsina also reported arrests, with varying conditions for bail and legal representation.
The situation has been particularly severe in states like Borno and Yobe, where violent protests led to significant property damage and arrests. In contrast, states like Kwara reported no protests or arrests, while Bauchi and Zamfara saw notable violence and property destruction.
