An activist, Kenechukwu Okeke, has filed a criminal complaint before a Chief Magistrate’s court in Abuja against 50 #EndSARS promoters for their alleged roles in the protests, with the looting and destruction of properties, that took place last October.
In the case which was instituted on Monday in pursuant to sections 88, 109(a), 110(1)(c) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Okeke listed prominent personalities, mostly entertainers and social media influencers as the defendants.
Okeke in his suit alleged that during the riot, his properties were destroyed and the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.
Those listed as defendants include Musician Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz; social media comedians, Debo Adebayo aka Mr Macaroni, and Maryam Akpaokagi aka Taoma.
Other musicians sued include Peter and Paul Okoye, Innocent Idibia aka Tuface, Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Michael Ajereh aka Don Jazzy and Yemi Alade.
Apart from musicians, others listed as defendants include Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi; activist, Aisha Yesufu; ex-Super Eagles legend, Kanu Nwankwo; a former Director-General, Bureau for Public Sector Reform, Dr Joe Abah; journalist, Kiki Mordi, and actors, Yul Edochie and Uche Jombo.
Others are social media influencers – Feyikemi Abudu, Olorunrinu Oduala, Pamilerin Adegoke, Japhet Omojuwa, Ayo Sogunro and Deji Adeyanju were also joined in the suit.
Okeke, who alleged that during the protest, his properties were destroyed, stated that the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice. In his supporting affidavit, Okeke said the defendants played active roles in the #EndSARS protest which later became violent.
The suit from Okeke partly reads, “That the 1st to 50th accused persons between the 3rd day of October 2020 and the 28th day of October 2020, using Twitter, an Internet web source with URL https://www.twitter.com within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst themselves to commit misdemeanour, to wit, promoting and acting in such a manner, with intent to assist in the promotion of #EndSARS and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97(2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That the 1st to 50th accused persons with intent to carry out some common purpose, assemble in such a manner or being assembled under the composition of #EndSARS as to cause persons in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to fear on reasonable grounds that such assembly needlessly and without any reasonable occasion may provoke other persons tumultuously to disturb the peace.
“Properties belonging to the complaint were egregiously destroyed by some riotous and tumultuous persons instigated and incited by the 1st to 50th accused persons.”
While instigating a private criminal prosecution against all the alleged perpetrators and coordinators of the #EndSARS riots on Twitter, the plaintiff said the nation bled, lost lives, and properties worth billions destroyed as a result of the sheer recklessness of some persons.
It can be recalled that the #EndSARS protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killings, which started peacefully, witnessed widespread violence with loss of lives and looting and destruction of public and private infrastructure across the country.