The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the Federal Government’s prosecution of ten #EndBadGovernance protesters, describing the move as a deliberate attempt to stifle dissent and intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
The protesters, who were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, September 2, 2024, face a six-count charge, including allegations of treason, conspiracy to commit a felony, and incitement to mutiny.
The government has accused them of attempting to destabilize the country by attacking police officers, burning police stations, and destroying public and private properties.
The protesters, identified as Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye (aka Lenin), Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi (aka Yomi), Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello (aka Murtala), Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, have all pleaded not guilty.
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HURIWA, in a press statement issued on Tuesday, denounced the charges as baseless and unjustified, arguing that the government’s actions amount to an assault on democracy.
The organization highlighted that many of the protesters were not engaged in any violent activity at the time of their arrest, with some reportedly taken from their homes in the middle of the night by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
“This is not prosecution; it is persecution. The government is targeting citizens who are merely advocating for good governance—a fundamental right in any democracy,” HURIWA asserted.
The association criticized the current administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, for failing to implement policies that could stabilize the economy and address critical issues like the falling value of the naira and fuel shortages.
HURIWA accused the government of betraying the electorate and resorting to silencing dissent through arbitrary arrests and trumped-up charges.
HURIWA also took aim at Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who has accused the protesters of plotting to overthrow the government.
The organization questioned the IGP’s competence in making such allegations, arguing that coup plotting is a military affair, not within the jurisdiction of the police.
HURIWA suggested that the IGP’s overzealous prosecution of the protesters might be a tactic to curry favor with the presidency, especially in light of his controversial three-year tenure extension despite reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In response to these developments, HURIWA has called for the immediate release of all detained protesters and urged the government to address the systemic issues that sparked the protests, including corruption, insecurity, and economic mismanagement.
The association echoed widespread condemnation from other civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, which labeled the trial a “sham” and a “mockery of the rule of law.”
“The real coup plotters are those within the government who have failed to tackle terrorism, kidnappings, and other security challenges. The arrest and trial of these young Nigerians are nothing more than a diversion from the government’s failures,” HURIWA concluded.
The organization also called for the immediate resignation of IGP Egbetokun and the appointment of a more competent police chief.