The counsel of the Federal Government, Rimazonte Ezekiel, argued on Friday that most of the 76 persons arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests earlier described as minors are adults. Ezekiel said this after a ruling in Abuja by the Federal High Court. He says many of the detainees have wives and are married men.
“They were adults,” Ezekiel argued. “Most of them were married men, even graduates of the university, but their family members were parents who came here to witness the case today. We are not here by coercion or force, just for a peaceful protest; so, we had reasons and justifications to assemble today.” Ezekiel maintained that the people had emanated from Kaduna and Zaria, claiming that they protested carrying Russian flags alongside others from other countries while “protesting against Nigeria.”.
The defense countered the position of the Federal Government, saying the people were minors. However, Ezekiel faulted the defense statement that the people who were found guilty were trying to have a way out to further destabilize Nigeria’s democratic rule, which, to him, is a fought-for and constitutionally guaranteed thing.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail for the detained protesters where each of the detainees shall pay N10 million-N760 million in total for 76 detainees. The court also established the requirements that each apprehended detainee should be provided with sureties of two. At least one of them is a Level 15 civil servant and the other ought to be a parent for the defendant. Surety presents official identification, promotion letter, and verified address, while international passports are deposited coupled with an affidavit of their means.
“The defendants are to be granted bail to the tune of N10 million each,” Egwuatu ruled. “A Level 15 civil servant is to be one surety and the other must be the parent of the defendant.”
This adds a rich texture to the public rhetoric surrounding the government’s handling of public dissent as both camps readied themselves for even more legal battles ahead.
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