Kano court remands 632 protesters over vandalism of public property

A Kano State mobile court on Tuesday ordered the remand of 632 protesters for alleged vandalism of public and government properties during the first day of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

The defendants were charged with criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, inciting disturbance, trespass and mischief by fire.

The court was presided over by three senior judicial officers, Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Yola, Senior Magistrate Hadiza Bello,  and Chief Magistrate Abba Dandago.

After the remand order, the Court adjourned sitting until 19th August for hearing.

Earlier, the State Director Public Prosecution, Salisu Tahir, had informed the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences during the protest on August 1

He explained that on the same date the defendants during the #Endbadgovernance nationwide protest, trespassed, 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 told the court that the offences contravened the provision 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.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the court sitting, the State Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, said the government set up three mobile courts to prosecute the defendants.

“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.”

Dederi said that the case would be studied and appropriate advice given by the Ministry of Justice before the next adjourned date.