6 Men Found Guilty Of Disturbing Public Peace During #EndSARS Released By Ikeja Court

Ikeja Chief Magistrate's Court on Thursday found six men guilty of causing a disturbance during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, but decided to release them.

The men involved were 31-year-old Daniel Joyinbo, 28-year-old Adigun Sodiq, 32-year-old Kehinde Shola, 29-year-old Salaudeen Kamilu, 33-year-old Sodiq Usseni and 34-year-old Azeez Isiaka.

The defendants reached a plea bargain agreement and admitted to a charge of disturbing public peace brought against them by the Lagos State Government. After reviewing the plea bargain, Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi found the defendants guilty and convicted them.

However, she decided to caution and release them, noting that they had already spent nearly four years in custody.

Earlier, the Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP) Babajide Martins informed the court that he had an amended charge. He stated that the defendants committed the offense on Nov. 23, 2020, at noon in Ebutte Metta, Lagos.

"The defendants acted in a way that could have disturbed public order, which is a punishable offense under the state's laws," Martins told the court, Punch reported. He added that this offense violates Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The penalty for conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace is either three months in prison or a fine of N15,000. The court can impose either the fine, the prison time, or both, depending on the case's severity and other factors, as per Martins.

After reviewing the submissions from both sides, Osunsanmi noted that the defendants had already served a significant amount of time.

"In light of the fact that these men have been in prison for nearly four years, I find them guilty as charged but will discharge them as they have already spent more than the required term of punishment," she said.

Before releasing them, the magistrate gave the six men a strong warning. She reminded them of the serious consequences of their actions and encouraged them to follow the law in the future.

Earlier this month, many state police heads started prosecuting protesters arrested during the 10-day #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria nationwide protest, which took place from Aug. 1 to 10. At least 1,135 people were arrested during the protest.