Tunde Oyesina 
…court remands defendants in prison custody
The Federal Government yesterday arraigned 10 members of the #endbadgovernance# protesters at the Federal High Court Abuja over alleged treason committed between July 1 and August 4.
The accused were said to have committed the offence during their one-week nationwide protests. The offences were said to be contrary to Sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who brought the charges against them, alleged that the accused broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the government.
He also alleged that they attempted to force their way into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down a police station and injured police officers. They were also said to have incited the public against the government and destroyed a police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.
The police also claimed that a 70-year-old British citizen Andrew Martin Wynne now at large was largely responsible for instigating mutiny against the government.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Gombe, among others.
However, Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel for the IGP Simon Lough (SAN) asked Justice Emeka Nwite to remand the accused in prison pending their trial. However, counsel for the defendants moved oral applications for their bail.
