A Federal High Court in Abuja has acquitted 11 protesters arrested during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, striking out treason and terrorism-related charges against them.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the landmark ruling, described as a “historic victory” by activist Adaramoye Michael Lenin.
The protesters, who were detained and prosecuted for allegedly participating in what security agencies labelled as a threat to national security, had been charged with treasonable felony, unlawful assembly, and alleged links to terrorist activities.
Civil society groups had condemned the charges as politically motivated, and human rights organisations had pressured authorities to drop the charges.
The #EndBadGovernance demonstrations were driven by public frustration over rising insecurity, economic hardship, inflation, and concerns about governance and accountabilit.
