Finally, Justice Emeka Nwite was available yesterday, June 25, to preside over the treason trial of Adaramoye Michael Lenin and ten others, after having been absent in court three times previously since last November. However, there was no trial, as a lawyer who appeared as the new police prosecutor requested more time to study the case. Rightly, the defense lawyers vehemently opposed the request, arguing that it amounted to deliberate time-wasting and irresponsibility by the government and asked for the case to be struck out. However, the judge conceded to the prosecutor’s request for adjournment, but on the condition that the case would be struck out if the prosecutor further delays the trial. Hence, the case was adjourned to October 9.
The former police prosecutor was said to be under a disciplinary action over some allegation of corrupt practices. We believe this is just a convenient excuse to further protract the case in court. The new lawyer who, inside the court, reprehensively called the activists criminals, who had committed serious crime against the state and must be punished, had obviously had ample time before yesterday to familiarize himself with the details of the case. The fact is that the government cannot prove the ludicrous and frivolous charges, preferred against the 11 #EndBadGovernnace activists; hence the delay tactics, something, we believe, the presiding judge is complicit. We believe the whole idea is to continue to shackle the activists with the trumped-up charges including treason, which carries a death penalty, in order to serve as deterrent to another mass protest or revolt against the anti-poor Tinubu government.
Manufactured ‘evidence’
However, the police lawyer boasted that the state had overwhelming evidence, as well as enough witnesses. We cannot dismiss the capacity and possible desperation of the government to manufacture evidence in order to punish the activists as their lawyer called for in the court. As far as the government is concerned, the activists must pay dearly for daring to challenge its anti-poor policies. For instance, in response to the objection to incessant, premeditated adjournments, the lawyer rudely said that any of the activists who cannot bear the cost of attending the court cases should be sent back to prison to “enjoy” free transportation! It should be recalled that the activists spent about two months in police custody and prisons before the local and international campaign forced the court grant them bail, albeit on stringent conditions.
Indeed, that another mass protest was held in Kenya yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the last year’s youth uprising in the country, might have further strengthened the resolve of the Tinubu government to put shackles on the necks of Michael Lenin and others. Last year’s events in Kenya were an inspiration for the #EndBadGovernance protest which rocked Nigeria last August and a warning to African leaders. It was not accidental that the Kenyan interior minister justified the shooting of demonstrators, and also passers-by, yesterday, by claiming the government faced an “attempted coup”; rotten elites will do and say anything to try to stay in power.
Against this background, the campaign and call for dropping of treason and other frivolous charges, in addition to the reversal of anti-poor policies and an end to attacks on democratic rights, must be intensified in Nigeria and internationally. Commendably, a protest was held at the Nigerian High Commission by Nigeria Solidarity UK which include members of the Socialist Party, the section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) in England and Wales, in addition to various solidarity actions by the branches of that Party as well by the German section of the CWI. A well known member of the Socialist Party and former British MP, Dave Nellist, wrote a public protest letter to President Tinubu to condemn the sham trial and demand an end it. It should be recalled former leader of the British Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, had earlier in the year written a similar letter. Such actions and protests need to be continued and stepped up in the three months before this ‘treason’ trial is due to start.