Court discharges six #EndSars protesters after four years in detention
The judge cautioned and discharged them, adding that they had spent almost four years in custody.
An Ikeja chief magistrate’s court has discharged and acquitted six persons charged and detained for breach of the public peace during the 2020 #EndSars protest.
The defendants had in a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to a count charge of breach of the public peace preferred against them by Lagos state government.
In a ruling on Thursday, Bola Osunsanmi, the presiding judge, found the six men guilty and convicted them of the offence.
However, the judge cautioned and discharged them, adding that they had spent almost four years in custody.
NAN reports that the six men are Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola,32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33 and Azeez Isiaka, 34.
Babajide Martins, the Lagos director of public prosecution (DPP), told the court that he had an amended charge.
He said that the defendants committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2020, at 12:00 p.m., at Ebutte Metta, Lagos
Martins added that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the public peace.
He said that the offence contravened Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Martins, however, urged the court to sentence the defendants based on their plea.
However, T.D. Ojeshino, the legal representative to the defendants, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.
“My lord, I plead the court to tamper justice with mercy as the defendants are first-time offenders,” Ojeshino said.
“Some are breadwinners of their families and still very young.
“They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons,” he said.
