On Friday, a Senior Magistrate Court in Kano State, presided over by Ibrahim Abubakar Mansur at the Goron Dutse Correctional Centre, delivered a significant ruling concerning the #EndBadGovernance protests. The court dismissed the First Information Report (FIR) against 37 protesters, effectively discharging them. Additionally, the court granted bail to 48 other protesters under specific conditions.
Each of the 48 individuals granted bail must deposit N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) at the Registry of the Kano State High Court and provide two reliable sureties. This decision follows a prolonged legal process and reflects ongoing judicial responses to the protest movement.
Legal representation for the protesters was provided by a coalition of organizations, including the Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ungogo Branch, the NBA Kano Branch, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Esq., from CEFSAN, confirmed that the case has been adjourned to September 18, 2024, for further mention.
Earlier in the week, the Senior Magistrate Court in Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano State, had also taken action on similar cases. Presided over by Hadiza Rabi’u Bello, this court reviewed the cases of over 70 protesters. The court discharged 36 protesters unconditionally and granted bail to 35 others. The decisions were made following legal advice from the Office of the Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Kano State.
A statement from CEFSAN, signed by Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, noted that the Gyadi-Gyadi court session on September 12, 2024, was part of a broader legal effort to address the cases of the arrested protesters. The statement highlighted the representation by a team of lawyers from CEFSAN, the NBA, and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. The court adjourned the matter to October 9, 2024, for further proceedings.
These court decisions mark a crucial development in the legal handling of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which have seen significant public and legal attention. The ongoing judicial proceedings reflect the complexities involved in addressing the issues raised by the protest movement while ensuring that legal processes are observed.
