BREAKING: Nigerian Government Deploys Heavily Armed Soldiers, Police, DSS Personnel To Abuja Court For Alleged Secret Trial Of #EndBadGovernance Protest Leaders
Armed security agents including personnel of the Nigerian Army, police, Department of State Services (DSS) have been deployed to the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja following the plan by Take-It-Back Movement to occupy the premises on Monday.
TIB Movement, a human rights and pro-democracy organization, on Sunday, called for a solidarity gathering at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday to demand the immediate release of #EndBadGovernance protesters who are facing charges.
In a statement released via their X account, it announced that its members would occupy the court premises starting at 7am to show support for the detained protesters.
The group extended an invitation to the general public to join the gathering and stand in solidarity with the cause.
Some of the protest leaders still in detention are Michael Adaramoye, also known as Micheal Lenin; Mosiu Sodiq, Angel, and Opaoluwa, who were arrested for participating in the protests and demanding good governance and an end to hunger.
The activists were to be arraigned in court on Monday but their lawyers were not informed, SaharaReporters learnt.
Meanwhile, TIB Movement on Monday slammed the Nigeria Police Force for reportedly postponing the arraignment of #EndBadGovernance protesters.
Upon arrival at the court on Monday, SaharaReporters observed that no fewer than 30 Hilux security vehicles and five military Armoured Personnel Carriers were stationed around the court premises to prevent other activists planning to throng the court in solidarity from getting close to the area.
Heavy security presence was evident around the court, with officers in both uniform and plainclothes deployed to key locations inside and outside the premises, in anticipation of the trial.
Further investigation revealed that the case was not scheduled in the cause lists of either Court 9 or Court 10, both of which are vacation courts.
A court insider, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that a case would be heard in Court 10 but was unsure of its nature.
Meanwhile, activist Omole Ibukun, who was present at the court, condemned the heavy military presence as undemocratic and called for its end.
He denounced the government for conducting secretive trials of innocent Nigerians who were peacefully advocating for action to address the pressing issues of hunger, corruption, and insecurity plaguing the country.
Ibukun said, “We came to the court today because we heard that some of the protesters who were arrested from the North were brought to Abuja alongside Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Angel Opeoluwa and others who were abducted in the middle of the night by the officers from the Office of National Security Adviser.
“We heard that they will bring them this morning and we heard the same information on Thursday and nothing happened.
“But they have sent information to our lawyers that they are no longer bringing them today. It only shows that we are right that protest is not a crime. The constitution did not take away the freedom of protest from any Nigerian.
“So the fact that they are not bringing today is a sign that they want to demobilize our solidarity and we ask Nigerians at home not to be demobilized.
“We must prepare to come out come out anytime to join this #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria and hardship protest.
“We also have information that they will still bring them today. As you can see, there are a lot of security trucks and vehicles of DSS, Police and Army. They have also asked the vacation judge to be on standby, that one case is coming but they have not revealed the case to anybody. It means that they are planning a secret trial of peaceful protesters.”
