The Federal Government of Nigeria is facing criticism for charging #EndBadGovernance protesters with treasonable felony. Senior legal experts and civil society organizations have condemned the move, calling it an attempt to discourage dissent and protest against government policies that are perceived to cause widespread hardship.
At least 10 protesters were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, accused of violent acts during demonstrations held between August 1 and 10, including attacking police officers and destroying government property. The protests, which occurred in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and other states, were sparked by the removal of fuel subsidies, electricity tariff hikes, and the rising cost of living.
Senior legal practitioners, such as human rights lawyer Jiti Ogunye, denounced the treason charges as reckless, arguing that peaceful protests should not be criminalized. Ogunye stated that branding dissent as treason is an abuse of power and expressed doubts that the government would secure any convictions.
Similarly, Timothy Tugbiyele, a legal scholar, argued that the charges were a tactic to deter Nigerians from protesting, emphasizing that demonstrations against government policies should not be equated with treason. He urged Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi to withdraw the charges.
Civil society organizations, including the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, have also called for the immediate withdrawal of the charges, arguing that security agencies failed in their duties to prevent violence during the protests. Rights activists warned that criminalizing peaceful protests could stifle democracy and embolden authoritarianism in Nigeria..
