No fewer than 632 #Endbadgovernance protesters have been remanded on the order of a Kano State Mobile Court in Kano State on Tuesday for alleged vandalism of public and government properties during the nationwide protest.
The court was presided over by three senior judicial officers, Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Mansur-Yola, Senior Magistrate Hadiza Rabiu-Bello, and Chief Magistrate Abba Muttaka-Dandago, respectively.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendants are charged with criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, inciting disturbance, trespass, and mischief by fire.
Earlier, the State Director Public Prosecution, Salisu Tahir, informed the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on August 1.
He alleged that on the same date, the defendants, during the #Endbadgovernance nationwide protest, trespassed and vandalised government and public properties in the state.
“The defendants broke into people’s shops and looted their goods,” the DPP told the court.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 97, 287, 229, 336, 349, and 247 of the Penal Code.
While some of the defendants pleaded guilty, others pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court adjourned sitting until August 19 for hearing.
Speaking also, the State Attorney General, Mr Haruna Isa-Dederi, said the state government constituted three mobile courts to prosecute the defendants after the court sitting.
I pleaded with the Kano State Chief Judge to allow the constitution of three special courts within the premises of the state police command because of the number of defendants involved.”
Isa-Dederi noted that the case diary would be studied and appropriate advice given by the Ministry of Justice before the next adjourned date.
