Former UK Parliamentarian, British Socialist group condemn trial of #EndBadGovernance protesters
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A former member of British Parliament, Dave Nellist has written a blistering letter to Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu demanding an end to the trial of 11 #EndBadGovernance protesters.
Also, a protest was held on June 25 at the Nigeria High Commission in London, to demand an end to the continous treason trial of Michael Lenin and the other #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The trial of the protesters was stalled on June 25 due to what the defence lawyers say was a delayed tactics of the prosecution. But the Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite ruling on the matter, threatened to strike out the case and discharge the defendants if the prosecution fail to proceed with the case on the next adjournment date, which is on August 9.
Meanwhile, Nellist, who represented Coventry South East from 1983 to 1992 in the UK Parliament, blasted the Nigerian authorities for arraigning the 11 protesters on charges of treason which carries the death penalty.
He said that the entire ‘so-called legal’ process that the activists have undergone – from arrest, detention, and eventual charging, are outrage against democratic rights.
The letter reads: Dear Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, I am writing to protest the Nigerian government’s harassment and persecution of critics of its policies and activists who mobilised in August 2024 under the banner #EndBadGovernance. The charges, including “treason,” which carries the death penalty, brought against activists such as Adaramoye Michael, National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, and Mosiu Sodiq, both in Abuja, are absurd.
“The entire so-called ‘legal’ process these and other charged activists have undergone – from arrest, detention, and eventual charging – is an outrage against democratic rights. The release of ten activists, including Adaramoye Michael and Mosiu Sodiq, on bail on 13 September 2024 is welcome but wholly insufficient, given the continuation of the trial on 25 June 2025.
“I demand the dropping of all charges against them and their co-accused, as well as the release of all those arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests who remain in detention without charges.
“The petition on nigeriasolidarity.com, signed by my former parliamentary colleague Jeremy Corbyn MP, the former leader of the Labour Party, along with other prominent British trade unionists, echoes this demand. I also call for an immediate, independent, and accountable public enquiry into the killings of protesters, and for their murderers, including those within the state forces, to be prosecuted.
“Furthermore, the continued harassment of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its President Joe Ajaero, such as preventing him from attending the congress of the British TUC in September 2024, is an assault not only on basic democratic rights but also on workers’ right to organise. I demand an immediate end to this campaign of harassment.
“I believe that by now, you will be well aware of the growing international protests. against the actions of the Nigerian government. To this, I now add my voice and await your commitment to cease the abuses described. Failing this, I will continue to rally support among the millions of workers and trade unionists in my own country.”
