Lawyer Appeals to AGF Over Treason Charges for #EndBadGovernance Protesters

Human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has addressed a letter to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the serious treasonable charges leveled against ten #EndBadGovernance protesters by the Federal Government.

This letter, received by the AGF’s office on Tuesday, critiques the government’s actions against young demonstrators who protested against hunger and poor governance in Nigeria this August.

Criminalizing Peaceful Protest: An Affront to Democracy

In his letter, Olajengbesi argued that criminalizing citizens for their peaceful assembly and protest undermines the fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law. He emphasized that the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and protected by international human rights agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory.

“To criminalise citizens for exercising their legitimate right to dissent through peaceful protest not only constitutes a breach of these legal protections but also tarnishes Nigeria’s standing on the global stage,” he stated.

Olajengbesi condemned the government’s approach as counterproductive and harmful to democratic ideals and free expression. He urged Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to safeguard citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.

“It is incumbent upon us to prevent the normalization of criminalizing lawful dissent, which undermines the democratic fabric of our society,” he said.

Olajengbesi highlighted that heavy-handed tactics by governments historically lead to a loss of legitimacy among both citizens and the international community.

“Historically, governments that have resorted to such heavy-handed tactics have invariably eroded their legitimacy in the eyes of both the citizenry and the international community,” he noted.

He expressed confidence in Fagbemi’s commitment to justice and the rule of law, urging immediate action to rescind the charges against the arrested protesters and ensure their prompt release.

Concluding his statement, Olajengbesi said, “Therefore, I earnestly appeal to you to ensure that all charges against the arrested protesters are immediately rescinded and that they are released without further delay. We must uphold the rule of law and refrain from punitive actions against those who merely seek to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights,”Olajengbesi concluded.

Court Proceedings and Remand of Protesters

According to The PUNCH, some of the #EndBadGovernance protesters have been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after being charged with treason. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered their remand on Monday, pending the hearing and ruling on their bail application scheduled for September 11, 2024.

The protesters, who pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge including terrorism, face significant legal challenges as the case proceeds.

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