#EndBadGovernance: Abuja protesters file application to vacate 60 days detention order

Arrested and detained EndBadGovernance protesters have filed an application before a federal high court in Abuja seeking to vacate an order allowing the police to detain them for 60 days.

Nigerians staged a nationwide protest against economic hardship from August 1–10.

The protesters demanded a reduction in the cost of governance, a return to the petrol subsidy regime, food security, and fiscal discipline, among others.

The demonstration, however, turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.

Following the protests, the police announced the arrest of perpetrators in some states.

On August 22, Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, granted an ex parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1223/2024 brought by the inspector-general of police to detain 49 respondents in the FCT for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.

However, the respondents have filed an application seeking to vacate the order against them on the grounds that their fundamental rights were breached.

Amongst several other grounds, the respondents/applicants, through their legal team led by Femi Falana, contended that “the honourable judge acted without jurisdiction when his lordship made an order committing the defendants to correctional centre pursuant to Section 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015″.

“Pursuant to Section 293 (1) ACJA 2015, only a magistrate court that has jurisdiction to try an offender that was brought within a reasonable time,” the application reads in part.

“At the time of the hearing of the motion ex-parte, the respondent/applicant was in custody of the applicant/respondent at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and not produced before the court.

“The motion ex-parte was predicated on suppression and misrepresentation of material facts.

“The motion ex-parte constitutes a gross abuse of the process of this honourable court.

“The complainant/respondent motion ex parte did not disclose any fact capable of linking the respondents/applicants to any terrorism activity.”

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the motion by the court.