Court grants N1.1 billion bail to 114 protesters accused of burning public facilities 

Justice Obiora Egwatu granted the defendants bail on Friday after hearing from the lawyers representing the defendants and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Naijaonpoint reports that these new defendants are in addition to ten defendants in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, before another court, who were accused of collaborating with a British citizen named Andrew Martin Wynne to destabilize Nigeria and intimidate President Bola Tinubu by allegedly attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, the High Court Complex, the NCC Complex, and other locations

Justice Egwatu ruled that since the charges against the four defendants had been withdrawn by the prosecution, “their names are struck out.”

After the ten-count charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty, allowing their legal team to apply for bail.

The prosecution stated that bail remained within the discretionary purview of the court, irrespective of relevant laws.

In ruling on the bail, Justice Egwatu noted that some of the defendants were under 18 years old, and the defendant’s lawyers had promised not to interfere with the trial or destroy evidence.

He also noted that the prosecution did not contest the defendants’ submissions.

“The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10 million each,” the judge said, directing the defendants to provide sureties in a like sum, which must include a civil servant and their parent or sibling.

What you should know: The charges against the protesters across several Federal High Courts are led by the IGP’s counsel, Simon Lough SAN.

The IGP holds the view that cases of conspiracy, treason, incitement to mutiny, incitement of disaffection against the government, terrorism, and other related offenses should not be condoned.