Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of intentionally stalling the trial of 11 activists arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest held in Abuja on August 1, 2024.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Sowore said the police cited missing case files as the reason for seeking yet another adjournment during the most recent court hearing on June 25. According to him, the police claimed that a former prosecutor, Simon Lough (SAN), who was recently removed from the police, left with parts of the case documentation.
“As typical of the Nigeria Police, they came and asked for an adjournment claiming that the man who originated the case, one police officer, Simon Lough (SAN), who was kicked out of the police, left with some of the files and they need more time to reorganise and commence,” Sowore said.
He further alleged that Lough is expected to face charges for age falsification brought by the police themselves.
The protesters are facing charges of treason over their participation in the August 2024 demonstration, which was intended to call attention to what organisers described as rising insecurity, economic hardship, and government corruption. The protest drew comparisons to the 2020 #EndSARS movement and took place in several cities nationwide.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has handled the case since November 2024, but it has been marred by repeated delays. Civil society groups have cited the case as an example of state-led efforts to suppress dissent.
The defendants—Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Daniel Akande, Mosiu Sodeeq, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu—were detained for more than two months following their arrest before eventually being granted bail. Human rights organisations have described the bail conditions as excessively harsh.
Following the June 25 court session, Lenin, one of the defendants, called on Nigerians to mobilise in defence of civil liberties. He said the prosecutor assigned to the case had requested additional time to review the case files, a request the defence team, led by Barristers Deji Adeyanju and Marshal Abubakar, opposed.
The presiding judge granted the adjournment but cautioned that the case could be struck out if delays persist. The matter has been adjourned until October 9, 2025.
