Amnesty International has strongly criticized the stringent bail conditions imposed on ten #EndBadGovernance protesters facing treason charges. The human rights organization described the conditions as a deliberate attempt to stifle dissent and suppress the right to peaceful protest.
On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to the protesters, setting a N10 million bail for each, along with a requirement for sureties who must be property owners in Abuja. The sureties are also required to deposit the property documents with the court, making the conditions exceedingly difficult for the protesters to meet.
Following the court’s ruling, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed deep concern over the court’s decision, labeling it as a continuation of the Nigerian authorities’ ongoing suppression of dissent. He emphasized that the ten protesters, along with many others detained for similar reasons across the country, should never have been imprisoned for peacefully protesting corruption and poverty.
Sanusi condemned the “weaponization” of such severe bail conditions, which he argues are being used to justify prolonged arbitrary detentions. He highlighted that peaceful protests are a legitimate form of expression in any democratic society, and the right to freedom of assembly should be protected, not restricted.
“Amnesty International observes with grave concern the Nigerian authorities’ wanton weaponization of stringent bail conditions to justify arbitrary detentions and to excessively restrict activists’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” Sanusi said.
He urged the Nigerian government to respect its international human rights obligations by facilitating peaceful assembly and ensuring that activists are not unjustly detained. Amnesty International’s position is that the rights to free expression and peaceful protest are cornerstones of democracy, and the government’s actions are a direct violation of these rights.
The ten protesters, arrested during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations held between August 1 and 10, were advocating against widespread corruption, poverty, and mismanagement of public resources. These protests drew attention to the worsening socio-economic conditions in Nigeria, particularly the increasing hardship faced by ordinary citizens.
In recent years, Nigerian authorities have been accused of using harsh legal measures and security forces to suppress protests and clamp down on activists. The case of these protesters is just one in a series of incidents where the judiciary has been perceived as being used to deter civic engagement.
Amnesty International continues to call on the Nigerian authorities to end the unjust treatment of activists and protesters, emphasizing the need to uphold human rights standards. The organization further stressed that the freedom to protest is integral to a functioning democracy and that peaceful dissent should not be met with intimidation or punitive legal measures.
As the case unfolds, there is growing concern both locally and internationally over the implications of the Nigerian government’s stance on peaceful protests. The global community is closely watching how this situation will develop, with many calling for a review of the bail conditions and the immediate release of all peaceful protesters.
