Amnesty International Responds to Court’s Remand of Pregnant Protester and Nine Others

On September 3, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja mandated the remand of ten activists, including a pregnant woman, following their arrest during recent hunger protests across Nigeria. This decision has sparked outrage from human rights organizations, particularly Amnesty International, which has condemned the charges as baseless and a blatant attempt to suppress dissent.

Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the case and ordered that the activists be detained in Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities until September 11, when their bail applications will be heard. Among the accused is Angel Innocent, who claims to be pregnant, alongside nine others: Michael Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis, and Abdusalam Zubairu.

The police brought the activists before the court, presenting six charges against them, including treason and conspiracy to incite mutiny, allegedly aimed at destabilizing the nation. The charges, outlined in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, accuse the defendants of waging war against the state, intending to intimidate President Bola Tinubu by attacking law enforcement and setting fire to various government properties, including police stations and the Kano State Government House.

Upon hearing the charges, all ten defendants pleaded not guilty. Their legal representatives argued for bail, asserting that their clients were simply exercising their rights to protest peacefully. Marshall Abubakar, representing the first and third defendants, stated that the charges were unfounded and emphasized that his clients had been in custody for extended periods prior to the remand order—some for as long as 30 days.

Other defense attorneys echoed these sentiments, highlighting that their clients posed no flight risk and had never been involved in criminal activity. Hamza Dantani, representing the ninth defendant, noted that his client suffers from asthma and had previously been granted bail before being rearrested. He urged the court to consider this in its decision.

In contrast, prosecution counsel Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), opposed the bail requests, arguing that treason charges necessitate stringent conditions for bail and should only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the case until September 11 for a ruling on the bail applications, while ensuring the defendants remained in custody during this period.

Amnesty International has been vocal about the situation, with the organization’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, condemning the government’s actions. In a statement, Sanusi described the charges as an abuse of the justice system aimed at silencing critical voices. He criticized the government’s attempts to label peaceful protesters as treasonous, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the charges and the unconditional release of those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.

In a related development, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf announced the establishment of a 14-member judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the recent #EndBadGovernance protests in the state. The governor acknowledged the protesters’ rights and encouraged them to present their demands, while also condemning the violence that subsequently erupted, which resulted in significant property damage.

Governor Yusuf assured the commission of his full support and encouraged a thorough investigation, aiming to prevent future occurrences of such violence.

The situation continues to unfold, and the actions of the Nigerian authorities in managing dissent and upholding human rights remain under scrutiny.