Court remands 632 protesters in prison over vandalism

A Kano State Mobile Court on Tuesday has ordered the remand of 632 protesters in prison over alleged vandalism of public and government properties during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

The defendants are charged with criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, inciting disturbance, trespass, and mischief by fire.

The court was presided over by three senior judicial officers: Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Yola, Senior Magistrate Hadiza Bello, and Chief Magistrate Abba Dandago.

According to the State Director of Public Prosecution, Salisu Tahir, the defendants committed the alleged offences during the protest on 1st August.

“The defendants broke into people’s shops and looted their goods,” Tahir told the court.

Some of the defendants pleaded guilty while others pleaded not guilty to the charge. The State Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, said the State Government set up three mobile courts to prosecute the defendants.

 ”I pleaded with the Kano State Chief Judge to allow the constitution of three Special Courts within the premises of the state police command because of the number of defendants involved,” Dederi said.

The case has been adjourned until 19th August for hearing.

The prosecution said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 97, 287, 229, 336, 349, and 247 of the Penal Code.