Amnesty International has condemned the Federal High Court’s decision to impose stringent bail conditions on 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters, who are facing charges of treason and incitement to mutiny.
On Wednesday, the court granted the protesters bail, setting a bail of ₦10 million each and the requirement of securing sureties with landed property.
The human rights organisation criticised the terms as “punitive,” accusing the Nigerian authorities of weaponising bail conditions to suppress dissent and violate the right to peaceful protest.
“The Nigerian authorities must end the wanton weaponisation of stringent bail conditions to justify arbitrary detentions and excessively restrict activists’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” the statement reads.
The 10 protesters, who were arrested for participating in demonstrations calling for better governance have been charged with serious offences, including treason and incitement to mutiny.
While Justice Nwite, who presided over the case, acknowledged the gravity of the charges, he affirmed that the defendants were entitled to bail under Nigerian law.
However, Amnesty International and other critics argued that the excessive bail terms are intended to keep the protesters in detention by making it difficult for them to meet the conditions.
Despite the court’s decision to grant bail, it remains uncertain whether the protesters will be able to meet the financial and logistical challenges associated with the ₦10 million bond, raising concerns about prolonged detention.
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