A Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja has discharged and acquitted six men arrested during the 2020 #EndSARS protest.
The six had been arraigned on a one-count charge of breaching the public peace filed by the Lagos State Government.
After their plea bargain application, Bola Osunsanmi, the Magistrate, discharged and acquitted the on Thursday: Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola, 32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33 and Azeez Isiaka, 34.
Babajide Martins, director for public prosecutions, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on November 23, 2020, at 12pm at Ebute Metta area of Lagos.
According to him, the offence contravened Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
T.D Ojeshino, counsel to the defendants, pleaded that the court temper justice with mercy since they had spent almost four years in custody.
“My lord, I plead the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants are first time offenders. Some are breadwinners of their families and still very young,” Ojeshino said. “They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons.”
In her judgment, the magistrate found the defendant guilty and convicted them of the charge.
She, however, cautioned and discharged them, adding that they had spent almost four years in custody.
In October 2020, many Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest the excesses of the now-disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS), a unit of the police.
In June, Shehu Sani, former senator representing Kaduna central, asked President Bola Tinubu to pardon #EndSARS protesters who are still in detention.
