By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)
One activist, named Kenechukwu Okeke has filed a criminal suit at an Abuja Magistrate Court against 38 Nigerians for participating or promoting the #EndSARS protests in the country.
Those listed in the suit as defendants include Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre, hip hop singers; Damini Ogulu known as Burna Boy, David Adeleke, popularly addressed as Davido, Folarin Falana, Yemi Alade.
Activists: Aisha Yesufu, Deji Adeyanju, Ayo Sogunro; journalist and documentary filmmaker, Kiki Mordi, and Arise TV reporter, Laila Salami among others were mentioned as defendants in the suit.
Okeke claimed that between October 28 and October 30, 2020, the defendants, via their Twitter accounts, conspired amongst themselves to “commit misdemeanor, to wit promoting or acting in such a manner with intent to assist in the promotion of an unlawful assembly under the guise or composition of “#EndSARS”.
This according to him is an offence punishable under Section 97 (2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That 1 to 50 accused persons with intent to carry out some common purpose, assemble in such a manner, or, being assembled under the composition of “#EndSARS”, as to cause persons in the Federal Capital Territory. Abuja to fear on reasonable grounds that such assembly needlessly and without any reasonable occasion may provoke other persons tumultuously to disturb the peace.
Okeke added that properties belonging to him were “egregiously destroyed by some riotous and tumultuous person (s) instigated and incited by the 1 to 50 accused persons. The averments as espoused in this complaint is not intended to be a complete recitation of all the applicable facts in issue or relevant facts relating to the conspiracies to assist in the promotion of an unlawful assembly (#EndSARS) riots, and shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver or relinquishment of any of the complainant’s constitutional right to fair hearing all of which are hereby expressly reserved including complainant’s right to tender all available computer-generated evidence by virtue of Section 84 of the Evidence Act.”
The New Diplomat had reported how the protest against police brutality and the misdemeanours of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) attracted attention in Nigeria and across the globe.
Several peaceful demonstrations were held in major cities in the country to show the displeasure of the youths.
While the federal government promised to implement the demands of the protesters, weeks after, it has continued to launch a clampdown against promoters of the protest, as well as touting laws to regulate the social media.
There have been reports on how international passports of some persons were withheld, protesters’ bank accounts frozen with scores arrested.
These moves have been largely condemned by rights activists and members of the international community who viewed such as an attempt to stop the evolving culture of citizen’s demonstrations among Nigerian young population.
