By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    United Nations
    4th International Conference On Financing For Development Delivers Renewed Hope And Action For Sustainable Development
    2 months ago
    The African Development Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) scale up drive for sustainable urbanization in Africa
    AfDB, UN-Habitat Scale Up Drive For Sustainable Urbanisation In Africa
    2 months ago
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    2 months ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    3 months ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    3 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    From Child Soldiers To Carpenters In The Democratic Republic of Congo
    3 years ago
    Egypt: United States Embassy Cairo Organizes Women And Environment Week
    3 years ago
    PeacePro
    Military Intervention In Niger Republic Will Amount To Digging Africa’s Grave – PeacePro
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Four African Cities Awarded CRA’s African Urban Heat Resilience Grants 
    4 days ago
    Gov Sanwo-Olu Hails Lagos Nomination As Intra-African Trade Fair Host
    4 days ago
    New AfDB President Set Youth Target In 100 Days, To Prioritise Reforms, Partnerships
    2 weeks ago
    Bank Video on President Adesina’s Gender Advocacy Wins Two International Awards
    2 weeks ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Peter Obi’s Big Win In Lagos Set Social Media On ‘Fire’
    3 years ago
    Tayo Ayinde, A Leading Choice For Nigerian President-Elect’s Chief Of Staff
    2 years ago
    15th BRICS Summit
    Timi Frank Blasts Shettima For Gloating Over Predetermined Tribunal Judgement
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    NSC Chairman To Engage With Youth And Sports Stakeholders At The Nest Centre
    4 weeks ago
    Edo District Bye-election: SDP Candidate, Hon. Isidahomhen Promises To Pursue Best Interest Of Esanland 
    1 month ago
    PHOTOS: Vinod Obasa Takes Oath Of Office
    2 months ago
    Gov Adeleke’s Outburst Against Aregbesola Shows Sign Of A Drowning Man – ADC Group
    2 months ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    798 Pensioners Paid N1.52B In Lagos State
    6 days ago
    Unlock Your Potential: NEXIM MD Inspires Nigerian Youth To Pursue Their Passions, Highlighting Opportunities In Non-oil Value Chains
    2 weeks ago
    Gov Okpebholo Rescues Over 10 Accident Victims On Benin–Auchi Highway
    2 weeks ago
    Lagos SWAN Chairman, Oladunni, Elected into Fellowship of the Institute of Security Nigeria
    3 weeks ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    Temi Otedola Makes Her Stage Debut In Motherland The Musical
    3 years ago
    Discover Exciting Programmes with Ease on GOtv
    2 years ago
    Nigerian Afrobeat Artiste WONDA Drops Captivating Summer Anthem ‘Ibiza’
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Akamai Adaptive Media Player 2: Bitmovin And Akamai Set New Streaming Standard
    6 days ago
    France Télévisions Hits Record Digital Engagement With Its Roland-Garros 24×7 Channel Powered By Wildmoka
    6 days ago
    Hello Mr Right Naija Season 3: Love, Drama And Surprises Await This September!
    2 weeks ago
    BBNaija Season 10: Faith Bags Most Influential Housemate, Snatches Head of House from Sultana in Week 6
    2 weeks ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    Sanwo-Olu Receives TAMPAN Award
    7 months ago
    Lagos Ministry Of Tourism Engages Stakeholders In Creative Industry
    2 years ago
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    4 months ago
    Latest News
    Preserving African Culture: Polaris Bank , Chivita, And Danone Support CIKDAS’ Youth Literary Initiative
    1 week ago
    Nigeria, Switzerland Takes Major Steps Towards Repatriation Of Artifacts And Cultural Cooperation
    2 weeks ago
    Archbishop Ugorji Hails St. Helen’s Choir As One of the Best Choirs in Owerri Archdiocese
    3 weeks ago
    Lagos Tourism Ministry Visits Heritage Sites For Inventory, Documentation
    4 weeks ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Gov Abiodun Showcases Ogun Investment Opportunities At AfCFTA In Algeria
    6 days ago
    Intra-African Trade Fair
    Nigeria To Host Intra-African Trade Fair In 2027
    1 week ago
    Bank of Agriculture
    How Nigeria-Brazil Pact Will Boost Agricultural Investment, Food Security – BOA
    2 weeks ago
    Nexim Bank Boss To Engage Young Nigerians With Non-oil Export Opportunities For Wealth Creation At Breakfast Session
    3 weeks ago
    ₦46B in pre-launch transactions.
    After ₦46B Pre-launch Transactions, Fidelity Bank Unveils PAPSS In Nigeria
    1 month ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    WHO
    WHO Raises Alarm Over Rise In Cholera Cases In Nigeria, Malawi, Cameroon, 7 Other Africa Nations
    3 years ago
    Tackling Preventable Diseases, Africa Needs To Vaccinate 33m Children To Put Progress Back On Track
    2 years ago
    USAID
    United States Partners Woman-Owned Nigerian Company To Fight Malnutrition
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    CAPPA Commends FG Health Tax Policy, Renews Call for Higher Sugary Drinks Excise Duty
    7 days ago
    Jubilation In Ebonyi As FG, State Govt Activate MAMII To Safe Pregnant Women And Babies
    1 week ago
    Abakaliki Agog As MAMII Train Enters Ebonyi State
    2 weeks ago
    LASU Professor Wins Distinguished Meritorious Obstetrics and Gynecological ICON Award
    2 weeks ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: EndBadGovernance Protests: Human Rights Watch Raises Alarm Over Tinubu Govt’s Crackdown On Protesters
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Metro > EndBadGovernance Protests: Human Rights Watch Raises Alarm Over Tinubu Govt’s Crackdown On Protesters
MetroNews

EndBadGovernance Protests: Human Rights Watch Raises Alarm Over Tinubu Govt’s Crackdown On Protesters

Last updated: 2024/09/07 at 12:14 PM
1 year ago
Share
SHARE

Nigerian authorities have charged 10 protesters who were arrested during protests across Nigeria in August 2024 with treason, which carries a possible death penalty, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should drop the charges.

According to legal sources consulted by Human Rights Watch, the 10 protesters are among the 124 people arrested in Abuja and other states, including Kano and Kaduna, after civil society-led protests, tagged #EndBadGovernance, began on August 1, calling for an end to economic hardship. On September 2 at a Federal High Court in Abuja police announced the charge of conspiracy to commit treason,  for attempting to destabilize Nigeria, seeking to remove the president, waging war against the government, and inciting mutiny, among other reasons.

“By charging protesters with treason, the Nigerian authorities are sending a troubling message about their intolerance for dissent,” said Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of equating protesting with a crime punishable by death, the government should uphold Nigerians’ right to freedom of expression and listen to their grievances.”

Deji Adeyanju, a lawyer representing the 124 protesters, told Human Rights Watch that his legal team made several attempts to visit the protesters in custody at the Police Intelligence Response Team office in Abuja, but that the authorities refused to grant them access. He said that they had no contact with any of the detainees from the time of their arrest until the arraignment proceedings on September 2, and that the authorities had not officially informed them about the session. Adeyanju said the protesters charged were in handcuffs, looked malnourished, and had rashes on their bodies.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

All 124 protesters, including children aged 14 to 17, were transferred from police custody to correctional or youth detention centers following an August 24 court order to hold them for 60 days until an investigation is concluded and charges are brought against them. This order appears to violate Nigeria’s administration of criminal justice law, which states that pretrial detention orders should not exceed 14 days, following which another application by the police can be made for 14 more days, stating why an extension is necessary.

The Federal High Court in Abuja set a bail hearing on September 11 for the 10 protesters charged. The authorities should protect due process rights for everyone, including the right to a fair trial, Human Rights Watch said.

Among those arraigned on September 2 was Angel Innocent, a 51-year-old single mother who participated in the protests at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. She was featured in a television interview shared on social media in which she accused government officials and other politicians of paying people 5,000 naira (about US$3) to disrupt the #EndBadGovernance protests at the stadium.

In recent months, the authorities have intensified a crackdown on critics and journalists, marked by numerous instances of abductions, unlawful arrests, and detention. On August 5, Issac Bristol, a social commentator alleged to be in charge of an anonymous social commentary account known as @PIDOMNIGERIA on X (formerly Twitter) was reported missing. Following public outcry, the police confirmed on August 24, almost 3 weeks later, that he was in their custody.

Bristol had been secretly arrested at a hotel in Port Harcourt, River State, and taken into police custody in Abuja. He was charged at a Federal High Court in Abuja with crimes including promoting the #EndBadGovernance hashtag, disseminating false information intended to disrupt law and order, obtaining and sharing classified information, and money laundering.

Other actions by the authorities have also raised significant concerns. In July, a federal legislator, Tajudeen Abass, introduced the Counter Subversion Bill, which he claimed was aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework by addressing subversive activities. The bill, which was eventually withdrawn following public outcry, was reported to include several troubling and overly broad provisions.

These included a penalty of up to 5 million naira (about $3,100) or a prison sentence of five to ten years, or both, for refusing to recite the national anthem; a fine of 4 million naira (about $2,500) or up to a two-year prison sentence for insulting, defaming, or discrediting community, religious, or government leaders; and a fine of 5 million naira or up to a 10-year prison term, or both, for activities that foster mistrust, intolerance, or violence threatening Nigeria’s peace and security.

Adeyanju said that “while critical issues like the economy and insecurity require urgent attention, the current administration is instead focusing on undermining human rights.” He said that “activists vocal on social media have expressed concerns about their safety, as individuals are being arrested and charged with treason merely for protesting or critiquing the government.

“In their relentless effort to suppress dissent, the Nigerian authorities are not only violating more rights and the rule of law, but also deepening public distrust in the government,” Ewang said. “The authorities should immediately drop the charges brought against those rightfully exercising their rights and release them immediately.

You Might Also Like

798 Pensioners Paid N1.52B In Lagos State

Unlock Your Potential: NEXIM MD Inspires Nigerian Youth To Pursue Their Passions, Highlighting Opportunities In Non-oil Value Chains

Gov Okpebholo Rescues Over 10 Accident Victims On Benin–Auchi Highway

Lagos SWAN Chairman, Oladunni, Elected into Fellowship of the Institute of Security Nigeria

Entrepreneurship, Mentorship, And Scholarship Are Gains Of FUTO Alumni Homecoming 2025

TAGGED: Human Rights Watch, Tinubu
INadminNG September 7, 2024 September 7, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Hello World, Goodbye Health: Curbing Big Soda’s Sportswashing At Olympics
Next Article CANEX WKND 2024 Set to Take Place in Algier In Algeria
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?