Michael Adaramoye, 9 Others Plead Not Guilty To Treason

Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin and 9 others have pleaded not guilty to 6 count charges of Felony, treason, and inciting mutiny brought against them by the inspector general of police before the federal high court Abuja.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite over their Nationwide protests from 1st to 10th August which turned violent and resulted in the destruction of government property and injuries of police officers across the country.

The first defendant Michael Adaramoye, national coordinator of the “Take It Back movement” and the other defendants were arrested across the different parts of the country.

Some of the charges against the defendants read “that between 1st July 2024, and 10th August 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, conspired “with intent to destabilize Nigeria, levied war against the state to intimidate or overthrow by attacking and injuring police officers, and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office, and several other buildings”

“The defendants, from 1st July 2024 to 10th August 2024, in Nyanya, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, and many other states, conspired to “destabilize Nigeria and incited mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by chanting ‘Tinubu Must Go’ and ‘soja muskeso,’ meaning ‘Tinubu must go, it is military we want,’ while rioting and disturbing public peace”.

These alleged offenses are contrary to Section 410 and 413 of the Penal Code Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.”

After the defendant had taken their plea counsel to the police Simon Lounge moved for the defendant to be remanded in the Kuje correctional facility and the date for trial to be fixed.

Counsel to the defendants in their respective arguments prayed the court to grant bail to the defendant while also moving an oral application to the effect of same.

Marshal Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju counsel to the 1st to 10th defendants in their respective submissions argued that the defendants are innocent until proven guilty and as such are entitled to bail.

The principle guiding granting is peculiar to its circumstances some of the defendants only participated in the protest.

The case before the court should be a protest and not treason.

Inline with section 161 of ACJA, none of the defendants are criminal or jump bail or interfere with the trial.

The only female defendant among the other is pregnant and needs to be with her family.