News
Court Acquits Six #EndSARS Protesters After Nearly Four Years in Detention
Six individuals arrested during the 2020 #EndSARS protests have been released after spending nearly four years in detention.
The Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court, on Thursday, August 22, discharged and acquitted the protesters, following a legal process initiated by the Lagos State Government.
The six men, identified as Daniel Joyinbo (31), Adigun Sodiq (28), Kehinde Shola (32), Salaudeen Kamilu (29), Sodiq Usseni (33), and Azeez Isiaka (34), had been in custody since their arrest during the nationwide protests against police brutality in 2020. They had been charged with a breach of public peace, among other allegations.
In the course of the legal proceedings, the defendants entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution, pleading guilty to the charge brought against them.
Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi presided over the case and, upon reviewing the plea bargain, found them guilty of the offence.
Despite the conviction, she noted that the defendants had already spent a significant period in custody—nearly four years—during which they had been awaiting the conclusion of their case.
Taking this prolonged detention into account, Magistrate Osunsanmi opted to caution the defendants rather than impose further punitive measures.
She discharged and acquitted all six individuals, effectively bringing their lengthy legal ordeal to an end.
The #EndSARS movement, which called for the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and broader police reform, saw thousands of Nigerians taking to the streets in October 2020.
Many protesters were arrested, and some have remained in custody for years while awaiting trial. The release of these six individuals represents a significant moment in the ongoing legal fallout from the protests.
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