Kano State’s Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, announced that all charges against #EndBadGovernance protesters in the state had been dropped.
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This decision, made public on Monday, followed a petition submitted by the non-profit organization Citizens’ Gavel on November 5, 2024, urging the Attorney General to exercise his constitutional powers to dismiss the charges.
The protesters had been accused of conspiracy to commit treason, unlawful assembly, and public disturbance after their demonstrations across Nigeria between August 1 and August 10, 2024. Citizens’ Gavel, which provided legal support for the protesters, challenged the charges through fundamental rights enforcement applications.
This development comes after a similar case involving 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters, including minors, was dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2024, following an application by the Attorney-General of the Federation to discontinue the case.
However, as some charges are being dropped, the Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA) has raised concern over the ongoing trial of 11 activists who led the #EndBadGovernance protests. The activists, charged with treason, are set to face trial on January 29, 2025.
The MSA is calling on both Nigerians and the international community to oppose the trial, condemning it as a blatant attempt to stifle dissent and suppress activism. The group is urging for national and international solidarity to demand the unconditional release of the activists.
