Following recent nationwide protests in Nigeria, where thousands rallied against the escalating cost of living, ten men have been indicted for treason and accused of inciting mutiny within the military. The protests witnessed a severe clampdown by security agencies, leading to the loss of at least 13 lives, according to Amnesty International, despite denials from the security forces of employing deadly force.
The group of ten, who have entered a plea of not guilty, were brought before the Federal High Court of Abuja on a Monday. Should they be found guilty, they face capital punishment, states human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong.
Prosecutors have claimed in official court documents that these demonstrators sought to upend the Nigerian state, contriving to commit treason. Furthermore, they are faced with an additional five charges stemming from the national penal code including agitation for military mutiny, destruction of government infrastructure, and breaching public tranquillity.
Applications for bail have been proffered by those representing the accused, a move contested by the state. Amnesty International has launched an appeal for the government of Nigeria to immediately and unconditionally release all individuals apprehended during the protesting period. Isa Sanusi, director for Amnesty International Nigeria, stated that the ongoing trial was a tactic to unlawfully vindicate the arrest of protesters rejecting the trumped-up charges.
The difficult economic conditions in Nigeria, exacerbated by high inflation rate following the devaluation of the currency and the upscaling of petrol and electricity costs, are widely attributed to the economic measures implemented by President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023.