Publisher of on-line platform, SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, and four others have been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja, by a magistrate court pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications in their alleged public disturbance trial.
The Chief Magistrate Marble Segun-Bello, of Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, Abuja, made the remand order shortly after the defendants were arraigned before her for allegedly embarking on a protest over the 2021 crossover celebration.
The federal government had on Monday arraigned them on a 3-count charge of Criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and public disturbance. They were arrested by the Special Weapons Tactical Team in Abuja on January 1, while protesting to mark the New Year celebration.
According to the prosecution, the defendants were seen carrying placards calling for a violent revolution against President Muhammadu Buhari. They however pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge. Following their ‘not guilty’ plea, the Prosecuting Counsel prayed the court for their remand at the Kuje Correctional Center as investigations into the charges were on-going.
In a short ruling Chief Magistrate Segun- Bello ordered that the defendants file a formal bail Sowore had earlier before the protest charged Nigerians on Twitter to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
