Court Dismisses Charges Against 119 #EndBadGovernance Protesters

On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled to dismiss the charges against a total of 119 protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance movement. This decision came after the protesters were arraigned on November 1, facing serious allegations including treason felony and inciting mutiny, among other charges.

The arraignment took place in two distinct batches. The first group comprised 76 protesters, which notably included 32 minors. The second group consisted of 43 individuals. The legal proceedings had raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of minors within the context of these serious allegations.

During the latest hearing, Justice Obiora Egwuatu presided over the case and ultimately struck out the charges following an application submitted by M.D. Abubakar, the counsel representing the Attorney General of the Federation. Abubakar requested the court to take over the case and discontinue the prosecution of the charges against the protesters.

This ruling reflects a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the #EndBadGovernance protests, which have drawn attention to broader issues of governance and civil rights in Nigeria. The dismissal of the charges has been viewed as a pivotal moment for the defendants, many of whom have been vocal in their opposition to perceived governmental injustices.