Pressure forces Nigerian Government to anabdon sham trial of Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 other #EndBadGovernance protestors charged with treason and terrorism
Today, December 10, 2025, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja struck out the treason and terrorism charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others. In his ruling, Justice Emeka lamented that the prosecuting counsel had shown a lack of diligence and seriousness in the case they initiated against the protesters. Subsequently, Michael Lenin and his co-defendants, who were detained and put on trial over the August 2024 nationwide #EndBadGovenance protest against mass hunger, economic hardship and anti-poor policies of Bola Tinubu government, were acquitted. Other activists are Daniel Akande, Mosiu Sadiq Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Angel Love Innocent, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, Buhari Lawal, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Suleiman Yakubu. Abdulsalam Zubairu.
Since the arraignment of the 11 #Endbadgovernance protesters on September 2, 2024, after unlawfully spending many weeks in police cells and prison, the Nigerian government had wasted public resources to sustain charges of treason and terrorism against them without being able to prosecute their own case. Rather, the police prosecutors repeatedly employed different delayed tactics and sought adjournment after adjournment. At least all of them were eventually given bail and freed from prison.
We recall that on June 25, 2025, Justice Emeka warned the prosecuting counsel to desist from further delaying the trial and expressly stated that the case would be struck out if the police further attempted to postpone the trial, following the resilient agitations of the legal representatives of the activists. The judge was actually compelled to strike out this case due to the relentless campaign of our comrades and supporters locally and internationally. Repeatedly public protests were held around the world while trade unions and civil rights organisations demanded this trial stopped. It was the same pressure that forced the government and police to abandon the trial as the police prosector was absent in court today. Left to the government and police, they were prepared to perpetually tie the treason trial around the neck of the #EndBadGovernance activists in order to serve as deterrent to further mass protests against its anti-poor policies and attacks on democratic rights.
It is fitting and instructive that the news of the court victory came when activists were again on the streets of Lagos, Ibadan and elsewhere in Nigeria to use the occasion of the December 10 World Human Rights Day to highlight and put on the front burner the demand for an immediate end to the sham trial of 11 #Endbadgovernance activists and an end to other instances of attacks on democratic rights in Nigeria. The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) expresses a profound appreciation to all the lawyers who rendered free legal service and comrades, supporters and activists locally and internationally for their sustained pressure and unflinching support throughout the periods of arrest, detention, and trial.
We consider this a victory, not just for the 11 #Endbadgovernance activists, but also for all Nigerians desirous of a better society. This is an example that we can fight and defeat a tyrannical government like the Tinubu government. Nigerian working people and youths must continue to fight consistently against bad governance and pro-capitalist policies of the government.
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) demands a public apology from the Nigerian government to all acquitted #Endbadgovernance activists, return of the properties and unfreezing of the bank accounts. We also demand adequate compensation for the 11 activists and all victims of abuse during and after the #Endbadgovernance protest. We also demand the immediate freedom of all the jailed #Endbadgovernance protesters sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Borno and withdrawal of charges against anybody still on trial over the August 2024 #Endbadgovernance protest. We maintain that protest against anti-poor policies and bad governance is a democratic right and must not be criminalized.
On June 12, protests were held in a few states across the country as a continuation of an expression by the working masses and youth of their rejection of the anti-poor capitalist policies of the Tinubu government and its descent into civilian dictatorship with attacks on democratic rights. In other words, the conduct and action of the Tinubu government, which celebrates June 12 as “Democracy Day”, runs contrary to the ideals of the day which was a watershed in a protracted struggle of Nigerians to end military dictatorship and enthrone a democratic rule with the hope of better living standards. However, it is apposite to state that on the basis of bourgeois democracy and economic programme, especially in a neo-colonial country, there was no guarantee that June 12 election won by MKO Abiola would have heralded better living standards for the vast majority.
Protesting in Lagos
Members of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) joined socialists and civil society activists to organise protests in Lagos, Oyo and Osun states. The turnout was small compared to the recently past nationwide protests, for instance the last October 1 protest, not talk of the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024. For instance, Lagos which recorded the biggest outing had just about 300 protesters.
However, the protests, which were energetic and inspiring, enjoyed massive support from passers-by, bystanders, motorists and residents of areas the protesters passed. This underscores the fact the vast majority of working people and youth remain vehemently opposed to the Tinubu government and its policies. Indeed, this is reflected, in Lagos for instance, in an impressive sale of Socialist Democracy, the paper of the DSM. with a frontpage headline: “Tinubu Has Failed Nigeria”, with the majority of the copies sold being bought by those on the sidelines of the protest. It actually shows that the assertion of the headline resonates with most Nigerians on whose living standards and livelihood the capitalist policies have had devastating effects. For instance, a journalist who bought the paper in Ibadan used the image of the front page with the headline to illustrate the feeling of many Nigerians on the failure of the government in an open letter he did to Tinubu on social media.
H. T. Soweto speaking in Lagos
The relatively small turnout at June 12 protest is most likely because the past actions were not able to force the Tinubu government to reverse the ruinous policies coupled with its sustained attacks of democratic rights attacking as a deterrent to any resistance and opposition to the policies. Therefore, many chose not to expend their time and energy on the protest but rather faced their daily struggle for survival. The leadership of the labour movement deserves the most blame for this situation. If they had not refused to put forward organised labour as a platform for a serious mass resistance against the anti-poor policies, some real concessions could have been won if not an outright reversal. We therefore reiterate the call on workers and trade union activists to mount a sustained pressure on the labour leadership to organise a serious struggle, for instance, a 24-general strike and mass protest as the first step, against the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu government. Despite a legitimate lack of trust in the leadership of labour by the working people and youth because of the past betrayal a serious mass mobilisation can draw massive supports for a general strike and bring several thousands on the street.
Protesting in Ibadan
Therefore, the resolve of the working people, youth and activists who have sustained the resistance in the face of a depressing mood, the indolence of labour leadership and the intimidation of the Tinubu government is commendable. They have helped put on the front burner the feeling and position of the vast majority who are firmly against the anti-poor policies despite the propaganda of the government.
The protest despite its size also served as a bold statement and warning to the Tinubu government it is not a walkover for it. The government had to organise a counter protest in Lagos and deploy the police to attempt to intimidate and disorient the anti-government protesters. Besides, given a deep-seated mass anger against the government, it is not ruled out that a spark could provoke a tumultuous revolt before the next general elections.
The support of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch for the protest in Lagos is commendable. Before the protest they sent a letter to the state Commissioner of Police warning him against any plan to violate the rights of the protesters and did a fantastic report, which was widely circulated, after the protest highlighting the unprofessional conducts of the police including their expected bias towards the pro-Tinubu protesters.
Many copies of Socialist Democracy were sold.
Altogether, tens of thousands copies of separate leaflets issued by the #EndBadGovernace Lagos State, Joint Action Front (JAF) and DSM were widely circulated before and during the protest. The leaflets and also various placards in these protests generally call for the reversal of the anti-poor policies, end to attacks on democratic rights, dropping of trumped-up charges against Michael Lenin and others still on sham trial in connection with the #EndBadGovernace nationwide protest of August 2024, a serious tackling of the deepening insecurity etc. The materials of both the DSM and JAF in addition argue for why the working people and youth in addition to sustaining resistance against the anti-poor policies must also support building of a mass working people party on a socialist programme.
TREASON TRIAL OF 11 #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTESTERS: DROP ALL THE CHARGES NOW
WE CONDEMN THE CONTINUOUS DELAY OF THE TRIAL AND THE PERSISTENT ABSENCE OF THE JUDGE
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) strongly condemns the continuous delay of the trial of Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 other #Endbadgovernance protesters who were charged with treason by the Tinubu administration over their involvement in the #Endbadgovernance protest which erupted last year August. We also condemn the persistent absence of the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, each time the case has come up for hearing in the last five months. As a result, the accused activists are yet to have their day in court over six months after they were charged. This delay has caused the accused activists enormous psychological and material strain. We hereby call on the Federal Government to stop wasting the time of the activists over a sham trial. Instead of wasting their time and taxpayers’ money any further, we hereby demand immediate dismissal of the false charges and a public apology to the 11 #EndBadGovernance protesters.
After overcoming the hurdles of a stringent bail conditions, the activists looked forward to the date for trial which was first set for November 8, 2024. Shockingly, the Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, who set the date was absent on the day the trial was supposed to commence. Consequently, a new date of January, 29, 2025 was set. The activists, who had no reason to be scared of the trumped-up charges against them, had showed up in court, however, again it was no-show for the judge. The absence of the judge meant that a new date had to be agreed on. Hence, March 26 was chosen as a new date for the commencement of trial. Again, the Judge was not in court on this new date! The best explanation we have gotten so far is that the judge is on vacation. The baffling question is how a judge would fix and agree to date of court sitting on three different occasions and be absent? And how many vacations does a Judge take within six months? As far as we are concerned, this is a deliberate attempt to stall the trial and ensure the threat of a death penalty continues to hang on the neck of these innocent Nigerians. We condemn this ‘hide and seek’ gimmick.
We seize this opportunity to call for the dropping of all charges against the 11 #Endbadgovernance protesters charged with treason, and all other #Endbangovernance protesters across the country. We strongly believe that the trial is a ploy by the government not only to criminalize peaceful protest, but to deter Nigerians from protesting against the hardship and misery caused by the pro-capitalist policies of the Tinubu administration. It is important to add that the government through the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, had discharged and discontinued similar suit of treason against 119 protesters who were mostly minors after their arraignment in court on November 1, 2024. That arraignment was a gory sight, many of the children had been starved and detained for weeks at different detention centers, including at Abattoir, the notorious police detention centre in Abuja where the 11 Endbadgovernance were also kept for weeks.
We are surprised that the same reprieve has not been extended to Adaramoye Michael Lenin and other protesters still on trial despite the fact that the charges against all of them are broadly the same. We believe that the further entertainment of this matter will not only lead to a wastage of the precious time of the court but also help sustain a national and global embarrassment to the image of Nigeria. Solidarity protests have been held at Nigerian embassies or diplomatic offices in a number of countries in Europe and the US at every court day since last September. We are also aware that Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of British Labour Party, recently signed a petition to the Nigerian High Commissioner in the UK, calling for the withdrawal of charges against #Endbadgovenance protesters and an end to attacks on democratic rights of Nigerians by the government This is why we would like to urge the Attorney General of the Federation to use his power to ensure that the time of the court is not further wasted on what is clearly a frivolous and malicious prosecution.
Friday November 8 saw the #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State Press Statement, hold a protest march in solidarity with those on criminal trial and in detention in connection with the nationwide protest held between August 1 and August 8 over mass hunger and economic hardship. Nearly 100 protesters, including members of the Movement, Womanifesto – a coalition of women groups, CEEHOPE and community and civil society activists and lawyers, participated in the action which was ended with the submission of a petition to Chief Justice of Nigeria through the Chief Judge of Lagos State.
Protesting in Lagos on November 8.
The protest march demanded the immediate withdrawal of trumped-up charges levelled against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and others on trial nationwide and immediate release of #EndBadGovernance protesters still held in detention.
Hundreds of protesters, including minors, were arrested during the August protests across the country following a fierce clampdown by the Bola Tinubu government which also recorded about 40 deaths. For instance, Michael Lenin, National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) and a member of Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), was arrested in Abuja in the wee hours of August 5, along with Mosiu Sodeeq, on the order of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Bola Tinubu. He was locked up for 59 days.
Recently, global outrage that followed the November 1 arraignment of minors forced the Tinubu government to withdraw charges against 119 detainees, including 32 children, who had spent close to 100 days in unlawful detention.
Marching through Lagos on November 8
However, apart from these 119 detainees, there are still, across the country, hundreds in detention or on trial on trumped-up charges, including treason which carries death penalty, for merely protesting against hunger and hardship caused by the anti-poor capitalist policies of Tinubu government. Therefore, though Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others are currently out of prison, having met stringent bail conditions, they still face a charge of treason, something which means that it is not yet a total freedom for them. Also, a few days after the withdrawal of charges against minors in Abuja, 19 protesters including three minors, were put on trial in Borno State and returned to prison custody. The Borno minors were unlucky as their arraignment did not enjoy a spotlight of social media, unlike their Abuja counterpart.
One of the protest organisers, H. T. Soweto from the DSM, speaking to the crowd.
The solidarity action was scheduled for November 8 to coincide with the commencement of trial of Michael and 10 others at Federal High Court Abuja. A similar action was held today at the Nigerian High Commission in London, UK, the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, and in a few other countries. However, the court did no longer sit as scheduled as the trial judge is on vacation.
November 8 solidary protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in London
and outside the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin
At any rate, the campaign for dropping of the charges and an end to the sham trial must be sustained. The fact that Michael Lenin and 10 others face similar charges as the 119 defendants whose matter has been discharged does not mean the former will enjoy the same reprieve. The Tinubu government wants to hang on their neck the frivolous charge of treason despite not having any proof in an attempt to make it as a deterrent to resistance and protest against its anti-poor capitalist policies.
By and large, the demands of the protest march which are also contained in the petition include:
Withdrawal of charges and discontinuation of case against Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande, Angel Love Innocent, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Eleojo Simon, Nuradeen Khamis and Abdulsalam Zubairu.
Withdrawal of charges against the 19 defendants, including minors, charged before Justice Aisha Mohammed Ali at State High Court 10 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Release of all peaceful protesters still in detention nationwide.
A public apology by the Federal Government to all protesters arrested, detained and subjected to such malicious trial.
An adequate compensation to all protesters arrested and detained.
Immediate psycho-social evaluation and support for the 32 child-protesters whose detention and trial were carried out in crude violation of the Child Rights Acts and international conventions protecting the right of Children.
The immediate sack of the Inspector General of Police and sanction for all government and security officials involved in violating the rights of peaceful protesters including minors through illegal arrest, torture while in detention as well as malicious prosecution on trumped up charges.
Other demands include reversal of anti-poor capitalist policies and an end to attacks on democratic rights.
Text of a press conference addressed by the #Endbadgovernance movement, Lagos State Chapter, on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at the International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba, to respond to the discontinuation of suit and release of 114 protesters including minors and to call for similar reprieve for all the remaining protesters in detention and on trial nationwide.
A CALL ON PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU TO WITHDRAW CHARGES AGAINST ALL #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTESTERS IN DETENTION AND ON TRIAL
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
We welcome you all to this press conference organized by the #EndbadGovernance Movement Lagos State Chapter. The purpose of the press conference is to respond to the release of 114 detained protesters including minors yesterday Tuesday 5 November 2024 and to demand the dropping of charges against all the remaining protesters in detention and on trial particularly Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others whose trial for treason is scheduled to commence at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday 8 November 2024.
Presenting the #Endbadgovernance Movement, Lagos State statement
Without doubt, we received with great relief the news of the release of the 114 protesters including the 32 children whose arraignment last Friday led to a national and global outrage. Mind you however, this development is not a product of President Tinubu’s magnanimity, rather it is a product of fear of the Nigerian people’s anger as well as the local and global outrage the situation generated due to the relentless campaign of groups and organizations who subjected the regime to a blistering criticism.
Left to the despotic Tinubu regime, the children would not be released. This is because the arrest and arraignment of the children for terrorism and treason was an important part of the Tinubu regime’s toolkit of intimidation tactics aimed at striking fear into the heart of the Nigerian populace and anyone who dares to oppose its anti-poor policies. Faced with the kind of mass uprising that erupted during the August protest, the regime needed very seriously to show that no one, not even children, would be spared its wrath. This is the only rational way to understand the fiasco we saw on national television and social media last week Friday when sick and malnourished children were dragged before a court of law to answer to charges of treason.
What changed the situation and caused the regime’s intimidation tactics to boomerang was the determined response of the Nigerian people. By uniting to call out the regime, we were able to force it to retreat and carry out a complete discharge of the protesters who, as at last week, had been locked up for over three months and slammed with grievous charges of treason which carries a death penalty. So, in every way, the release of the children is the first victory in our long-term struggle to rid Nigeria of bad governance and the anti-poor and neo-liberal capitalist policies that have led to unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship for our people.
Sadly, the release of the children cannot atone for the damage already done to them. During the nearly 100 days of their incarceration, the children were subjected to all kinds of ill-treatment including starvation and torture. Their rights as children were not respected in violation of all relevant provisions of the Child Rights Act as well as a host of international conventions protecting the rights of children. Not only were they detained in adult facilities and arraigned without protection for their privacy, the false and trumped-up charges of terrorism and treason leveled against them is likely to haunt them for years to come.
To this extent, we demand public apology by the government and payment of adequate compensation to the children and all detained protesters. We also call for the sack of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) under whose custody the children suffered untold ill-treatment, torture and starvation. We call for an independent probe panel composed of elected representatives of civil society organizations, trade unions and professional groups to investigate the circumstances surrounding the children’s ordeal with a view to identifying government and security officials that are directly responsible for their ill-treatment so they can be appropriately sanctioned.
The protest that erupted between 1st to 10 August 2024 due to the severe hunger and hardship unleased by President Tinubu’s anti-poor capitalist policies of subsidy removal, fuel price hike and currency devaluation was a desperate cry by Nigerian people for answers to the roaring cost of living crisis. During the protest, about 40 peaceful protesters were killed by the police and other security agents. At least about 2,100 protesters were arrested nationwide out of which hundreds are still in jail and on trial in different parts of the country as at today. For instance, on Monday 4 November 2024, 19 protesters including three minors were arraigned at a Federal High Court in Maiduguri Borno state for terrorism and treason. Similarly, 11 protesters, Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others, are due back at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday 8 November 2024 for the commencement of their trial for treason.
When critically evaluated, the charges against the discharged 114 protesters and Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others are broadly the same. The cases against both batches of protesters are equally ridiculous as the proof of evidence is inadequate to sustain the charges against them. For instance, Adaramoye Michael was arrested only because he happens to go by the nickname “Lenin” which is Russian. Lenin is the name of Vladimir Ilyich, the leader of the Socialist revolution in Russia in October 1917. Being a Socialist and a member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Adaramoye Michael Lenin adopted this name as his nickname in line with the tradition in the students and activists movement in Nigeria. Michael has no relationship whatsoever with the Russian dictator, Putin, whose vicious capitalist regime is an antithesis of the aims of the Russian Socialist revolution of 1917.
According to the charge sheets against the 11 defendants, the proof of evidence to sustain the 6 count charge against them are the following: (1) Statement of the defendants, (2) Telephone of the suspects (3) Forensic analysis of the telephones of the suspects and call data (4) Videos CD/DVD of the riot/inciting disturbance (5) Books/Placards, pamphlets recovered (6) Photographs of properties looted and some destroyed (7) CD/DVD/flash drive of government and other properties looted/destroyed (8) Telephone call logs and handsets (9) CAC documents and other documents (10) Any other relevant exhibits.
For a group of defendants who are being tried for grievous offenses ranging from treason to mutiny, and intent to destabilize and levy war against Nigeria, you would have expected that the government would have been able to provide more convincing and incriminating evidence to prove its case like weapons and other indicators. But the truth of the matter is that the charges against the 11 protesters, just as the charges against the 114 including the children, are trumped up and false charges. There is no iota of truth to these charges which the Amnesty International has rightly described as a sham trial.
All the defendants did was to participate in peaceful protests across the country between 1 to 10 August 2024 to demand an end to hunger and hardship. If there was any grain of truth to the allegations, the regime would not have been able to withdraw the charges against the 114 protesters. This is why we are now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande, Angel Love Innocent, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Eleojo Simon, Nuradeen Khamis and Abdulsalam Zubairu as well as all other peaceful protesters in detention and on trial nationwide. We also call for the meeting of the demands of the August protest especially regarding the reversal of fuel price hike, electricity tariff hike, hike in food prices as well as all anti-poor policies. Without meeting these demands, President Tinubu should continue to expect to see more protests and demonstrations by the Nigerian people.
To drive home our demand for the release of all #Endbadgovernance protesters on trial and in detention, we have declared Friday 8 November 2024, the day the trial of the 11 protesters for treason is scheduled to commence, a day of solidarity. On this day, we are urging the Nigerian people to demonstrate their support for the demand for freedom for all #Endbadgovernance protesters in detention and on trial. On our own part, we are going to hold a peaceful rally on this day. The rally will be held as follows:
DATE: Friday 8 November 2024
TIME: 7am
TAKE-OFF POINT: Ikeja Under Bridge from where we shall march to submit a petition demanding dropping of charges against all protesters on trial and unconditional release of those in detention to the Chief Judge of Lagos state for onward transmission to the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
We can also reliably inform you that the Nigerian Solidarity UK and other groups abroad are also planning a series of solidarity activities including a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in London by 5:30 pm on Friday November 8 2024 to demand the release of all protesters on trial and in detention. Similar actions will take place at the Nigerian embassy in Berlin, Germany. So, in a sense, this is going to be a day of international solidarity to mount pressure on the Tinubu regime to release peaceful protesters and also meet our demands for answers to the cost of living crisis.
In conclusion, be rest assured that we shall not relent in our struggle to end bad governance in Nigeria. Despite the intimidation and repression that we face today, the struggle of the Nigerian people shall be victorious.
Hassan Taiwo Soweto
Osugba Blessing
Oloye Adegboyega-Adeniji
For the Organising Committee, #Endbadgovernance Movement, Lagos State
Demands their unconditional release and the dropping of charges against all protestors
On Friday, 1st November 2024, the Nigerian government arraigned 76 protesters, including 32 minors aged between 14 and 17, for ‘terrorism and treason’ at a Federal High Court in Abuja and January 24, 2025 was set as the start date for their trial. The protesters who were arrested from the Northern parts of the country during the #Endbadgovernance protest that rocked Nigeria from 1st to 10 August 2024 had spent 93 days in police detention due to a court order. These 76 were the first batch of detainees to be charged as later on Friday a further 43 people were arraigned on similar charges in the same court.
The children in the first group were looking dishevelled, sick and visibly malnourished as they huddled together in the dock – a visible sign of their poor treatment and possibly torture while in detention. At least 4 of them, one aged 14 and including an adult, slumped while waiting to take their pleas; with one on the ground writhing in pain thereby the judge had to pause proceedings briefly.
We of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) condemn the Tinubu government for this inhumane treatment of the children and other detainees. We recognize that the judge discharged the 4 defendants that slumped from the proceedings until they medically fit, while the rest were granted bail but each with the now usual stringent conditions such as surety of N10 million. However, as far as we are concerned, even this is not enough because all it means is that they all will continue to stand trial over outrageously false charges of terrorism and treason.
We hereby demand that all charges against the children and other detainees be dropped completely and they should be reunited with their families immediately. Children should be in school, not in court. Putting them on trial purportedly for plotting to topple a government is nothing but a moral outrage. It shows that the Tinubu government has clearly lost any modicum of reason. Rather it has now becoming a rampaging civilian capitalist dictatorship bereft of all decency and one, fearing the population, seeks to rule by intimidation.
Meanwhile, Friday’s arraignment marks an escalation in President Tinubu’s assault on the right to protest and asphyxiation of all democratic rights and freedoms. Just two weeks ago, 22 protesters were arrested, and then beaten ruthlessly, by the police at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos state, for attempting to commemorate the EndSARS massacre four years ago.
Next week, Friday 8 November 2024, the trial of another group of 11 protesters, Adaramoye Michael Lenin (YRC national coordinator) and 10 others, for treason is scheduled to commence at the Federal High Court, also in Abuja. They are being tried for treason because they participated in a peaceful protest in August against hunger and hardship.
We of the YRC hereby demand that charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and all protesters standing trial be dropped immediately. We also demand a halt to all attacks on democratic rights. Protest is not treason. We affirm the right of the Nigerian people and youth to continue to organize to resist the anti-poor capitalist policies of the Tinubu regime which has plunged society into unimaginable hunger and misery.
Today, in the early afternoon, twenty two EndBadGovernance protesters arrested for marking the murder of EndSARS protesters were released by the police. The #EndSARS struggle of October 2020 is a watershed in the history of Nigeria. The Nigeria ruling elites were shocked by the massive protest of young people across the country to demand an end to a rogue unit of the Nigeria Police Force called SARS. Despite state sponsoring of thugs to attack protesters and shooting of protesters by the police in various locations, for two weeks young people demonstrated resilience and unity of purpose. Below, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Organising Committee, #Endbadgovernance Movement, Lagos State and National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), had this message when he and the others were released earlier today:
“We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came down to the Panti police station pleading hypocritically. The whole brutalisation, assault and arrest happened in his presence.
He ordered it.
Obviously the last has not been heard of this. Many of us are injured. One comrade had blood gushing from his nose. Two comrades, a male and female, were sexually molested. A male comrade was stripped naked – we had to find a rope to hold his trousers to preserve his dignity.
Many are still in shock.
I had my cloth torn by Officer Nnadi James at Panti police station. This violation of our rights and brutalisation on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre four years ago cannot be tolerated.
We want justice. We won’t stop until we have it.
As for the struggle against Tinubu’s anti-poor policies, this assault won’t dissuade us. The struggle continues until victory.”
Eleojo Opaluwa, Michael Lenin and Mosiu Sodiq outside prison. Phoot: DSM
Drop charges, and release protesters still held
Adaramoye Michael Lenin and Mosiu Sodiq have been released from prison after almost two months in the captivity of Bola Tinubu’s government. Also freed today is Eleojo Opaluwa, a regional officer of the National Union of Electricity Employees.
Michael Lenin and Sodiq were abducted in the wee hours of 5 August by the operatives of the National Intelligence Agency in Abuja. Their abduction and subsequent detention were part of the vicious clampdown on the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country, especially in Abuja and the northern part of the country.
Michael Lenin, National Coordinator of the Youth Right Campaign and a member of the Democratic Socialist Movement, was one of the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests. Since their arrest, Michael and ten others have been on trial on charges of treason, which carries a death penalty.
They were granted bail from 11 September following a strident local and international campaign for their release. But the stringent conditions of the bail meant that they spent three more weeks in prison. Just three out of the original ten charged with treason had been previously freed – Abayomi Adeyemi, Angel Loveth and Nuradeen Khamis.
Still in detention are Daniel Akande, Bashir Bello, Suleiman Yakubu and Abdulsalam Zubairu. Daniel, who was arrested on 2 September, was charged to court on 27 September. However, 103 are still languishing in detention in Abuja without charge and trial. Also, Khaleed Aminu and seven others remain in detention in Kaduna. In Kano and elsewhere there are several activists, journalists and whistleblowers still being held. Therefore, it is not yet finally hurrah!
We demand immediate freedom for everyone still detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. Despite being out of prison, Michael Lenin and others remain on trial for treason. We hereby demand the dropping of all trumped-up charges against them. We also demand the unfreezing of bank accounts of activists and organisations which have been barred in connection with #EndBadGovernance protests.
We say kudos to socialists, trade unions and other organisations and activists locally and internationally for their various solidarity actions.
We call on working people and youth to sustain the struggle against anti-poor capitalist policies and attacks on democratic rights by the Tinubu government.
Francis Nwapa, National Secretary Youth Rights Campaign (Nigeria)
We, of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), unequivocally condemn the conditions attached to the bail granted to Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq and eight others, who have been incarcerated in connection with #EndBadGovernance protest for about six weeks now, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja. These conditions, which require a surety each with property in Abuja and 10 million naira, not only reflect a troubling disregard for the fundamental rights of ordinary people but also reveal a judiciary system that does not care about the legitimate grievances expressed by the Nigerians in the August protests, particularly the worsening economic hardship and mass hunger.
In other words, it is a bail which does not guarantee freedom for those subjected to injustice by Tinubu government as it is difficult to meet the financial demands of the conditions. In addition to Michael Lenin and Sodiq, others are: Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello (aka Murtala), Nuradeen Khamis, Abdulsalam Zubairu.
Michael Lenin, National Coordinator of YRC was arrested and blindfolded together with Sodiq in the wee hours of 5 August by the operatives of National Intelligence Agency on the order of Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
The charges are trumped-up and fabricated, aimed at stifling dissent and suppressing protests. For instance, one of the ridiculous charges is treason, which carries death penalty, for merely carrying placards with the inscription “End Bad Governance”.
We demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of charges against Micheal Lenin and nine others, and the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested in connection with the August protests yet to be charged. These include 39 who have been slammed in Kuje prison without being arraigned in court since 22 August, and Daniel Akande who is being held at the facility of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in Abuja without trial since 2 September. There is also Khalid Aminu who has been in custody of the DSS without trial since the first week of August.
We also call on the police and other security operatives to stop the constant harassment of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero and desist from the planned arrest of some socialist and left activists based in Abuja. We also demand the unfreezing of bank accounts of activists and organisations which have been barred in connection with #EndBadGovernance protests. Labour and pro-masses’ organisations should support these demands. End the atmosphere of intimidation and repression by the Tinubu government. Its descent to civil dictatorship must be resisted.
Moreover, we must highlight a glaring hypocrisy within the legal system. Corrupt politicians and other members of the thieving elite accused of serious offences often receive lenient bail conditions that starkly contrast with those imposed on ordinary citizens. This disparity underscores a systemic bias that favours the rich ruling elite who steal public wealth but penalises ordinary people for exercising their democratic rights.
We call on the labour movement, especially leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society organisations and human rights groups to practically lend weight and voice to ensuring that Michael Lenin and nine others who have been granted bail to regain freedom and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all in different detention facilities in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests.
We specifically charge NLC President Joe Ajaero to walk the talk he made during a visit to the new President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) as he was reported to have “reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to working alongside the NBA in promoting the rights of workers and all Nigerians” (Punch, 14 September). The NLC must ensure that all those arrested and detained over #EndBadGovernance protests are released. Instructively, they include Eleojo Opaluwa, a regional officer of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Vice Chair of NLC Kogi State council.
Tinubu is using the detention of activists and attacks on democratic rights to serve as deterrent to further mass protests. Working people and youth must fight for the freedom of detained protesters and prepared to join a future protest against Tinubu anti-poor policies.
Activists from Nigeria Solidarity, quickly organised a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in London on Monday 9 September in response to the attacks on the workers’ and anti-austerity movements. The protest supported the #EndBadGovernance protesters and the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) by submitting a petition demanding the release of Nigerian Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, as well as Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande, and all those incarcerated in connection with the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
Joe Ajaero, who was arrested early on the Monday, was released later that day without his passport, after 15 hours of questioning by the secret police over alleged terrorism financing.
Micheal Lenin, who was arrested on Sunday 5 August, now falsely charged alongside others with treason, is the National Coordinator of the YRC. If found guilty, they could face a death sentence, the maximum penalty in Nigeria for treason. The YRC group played crucial roles in the #EndSARs protest four years ago and also in the ten days of protests that rocked Nigeria last month over increasing hunger and hardship.
This demo is part of international solidarity actions planned by the YRC and the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) to rally activists, trade unionists, youth groups and socialists across the world to raise awareness about the repression and budding dictatorship in Nigeria. Its aim is to build sustained pressure on the Nigerian government as Adaramoye Michael Lenin and nine others appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday 11 September, for a ruling on their bail application. Similar activities are planned in Nigeria on the day of the court sitting.
Speaking during the demo, I said: “Socialists, working people and youth across the world are inspired by the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria. We extend our solidarity to the working class and youth in Nigeria in their struggle against fuel price hikes, anti-poor economic policies and attacks on democratic rights. We call on President Tinubu to halt the repression and release all those imprisoned now. Only a socialist Nigeria can end the economic crisis facing the country”.
We will continue to raise the issues of the repression in Nigeria within the trade unions, students unions and socialist movement with a view to build more support for the struggle against the horrendous impact on most Nigerians of the government’s neo-liberal policies in Nigeria.
We Say:
Drop ‘treason’ and ‘terrorism’ charges against protest organisers
Defend the right to protest, and free the hundreds detained for protesting
Fight to defend Nigerians from economic and social collapse
Nigeria Solidarity 