Six #EndSARS protesters regain freedom after four years

A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos discharged the individuals who stood trial for breaching public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protest.

The individuals are, Daniel Joyinbo (31), Adigun Sodiq (28), Kehinde Shola (32), Salaudeen Kamilu (29), Sodiq Usseni (33), and Azeez Isiaka (34), had entered a plea bargain agreement and pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching public peace, as brought against them by the Lagos State Government.

Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi found the defendants guilty and convicted them of the offence, after reviewing the plea bargain.

Earlier in the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, presented an amended charge to the court.

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He stated that the defendants committed the offence on November 23, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. in Ebutte Metta, Lagos.

According to him, their actions were likely to cause a breach of public peace, an offence that contravenes Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Martins urged the court to sentence the defendants based on their guilty plea.

In response, the defendant’s legal representative, T.D. Ojeshino, pleaded for leniency, arguing that the defendants were first-time offenders, some of whom were breadwinners for their families.

“My lord, I plead the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants are first-time offenders,” Ojeshino said.

He said the men had been in custody since 2020 and had learned their lessons.