SAN FRANCISCO, November 11, (THEWILL) – A Chief Magistrate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Musa Eneye has granted bail to six #EndSARS protesters in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
The six defendants were arraigned last Friday by the FCT Commissioner of Police on a one-count charge bordering on alleged public disturbance.
They include Olutosin Adeniji, Yasidu Bashiru, Abdulsalam Zubairu, Kabiru Garzali, Paul Akinwumi and Devour Chomo.
The defendants, who wore T-shirts and other inscription of #RevolutionNow during the November 6 #EndSARS protest were arrested at the entrance of the National Assembly.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge read against.
However, a move by their lawyer, Mr Tope Akiyode to orally argue their bail application was rejected with the judge ordering their remand at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their formal bail application fixed for November 11, 2020.
Arguing the bail application of the defendants on Wednesday, Akiyode told the court that the defendants have been in custody since their arrest on November 6.
He further submitted that the offence the defendants were charged with is bailable, adding that the defendants are entitled to bail.
The defendants’ lawyer therefore urged the court to release the defendants on bail on the most liberal terms, adding that they will not jump bail and will be available for their trial.
Although the bail applications with the affidavit evidence were served on the legal department of the FCT Police Command, there was however no legal representation for the complainant when the matter was called and neither was any excuse offered for the absence.
In his ruling, the magistrate agreed to the submissions of Akiyode and admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000 each with a surety in like sum.
The magistrate added that the surety must have a source of income and must submit passport photograph of means of identifications to the Registrar of the court.
He then adjourned till January 25, 2021, for trial to begin.
