Court Discharges Six #EndSARS Protesters After Four Years in Custody
An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday discharged and cautioned six men involved in the 2020 #EndSARS protest after nearly four years in detention.
The individuals—Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola, 32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33, and Azeez Isiaka, 34—were accused of breaching public peace.
The defendants, who entered a plea bargain, admitted guilt to the charge brought against them by the Lagos State Government. Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi, upon reviewing the plea, found the men guilty but chose to discharge them, noting the time they had already spent in custody.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, informed the court that the defendants’ actions on Nov. 23, 2020, at Ebutte Metta, Lagos, were likely to disturb public peace, which is a violation of Section 168(d) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015. Despite this, their legal representative, Mr. T.D. Ojeshino, appealed for leniency, emphasizing their roles as first-time offenders and breadwinners.
In consideration of the time already served, Magistrate Osunsanmi decided to discharge the defendants.
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