An Abuja based self acclaimed activist, Kenechukwu Okeke, has filed a criminal charge against notable Nigerian celebrities.
They include founder of Daystar Christian Center, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, female rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, Nigerian sport icon, Kanu Nwankwo, music stars, David Adeleke aka ‘Davido’, and 46 others over their alleged complicity in last month nationwide #EndSARS protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The criminal charge instituted at the Chief Magistrate Court of the FCT, is pursuant to section 58, 109, 110 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
In the charge, the Endsars protesters were accused of forming an unlawful assembly and subsequently disrupted the peace of the nation’s capital city last month.
They were also accused of mis-using the social media to aid their alleged disruption of the peace and tranquility of the FCT during the protests period.
Other celebrities listed in the criminal charge include; Folarin Falana, aka False, Yemi Alade, Peter and Paul Okoye of P Square, Innocent Idibia, Nollywood star Yule Edochie and Debo Adebolayo.
Also included in the charge are; Banky W, Burna Boy, Arise News Anchor, Laila Johnson-Salami, Deji Adeyanju, Kiki Mordi, Module Odele Oseyi Etomi, Ayo Sogunro, amongst others.
The complainant, who claimed to be a resident of Gana Street, in Maitama, Abuja and a promoter of Good Government in Nigeria, alleged that the defendants between October 3 and 28 conspired, among themselves to commit misdemeanor, “to wit, promoting or acting in such a manner with intent to assist in the promotion of an unlawful assembly under the guise or composition of #EndSARS and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
Okeke further alleged that the 50 defendants with intent to carry out some common purpose, assembled in such a manner under the composition of #endsars to cause persons in the FCT to fear on reasonable grounds that such assembly needlessly and without any reasonable occasion may provoke other persons tumultuously to disturb the peace of the FCT.
Specifically, the complainant alleged that his movable properties were “egregiously destroyed by some riotous and tumultuous persons instigated and incited by the 50 defendants”.
Okeke however claimed that he instituted the legal action, “in the interest of defence, public safety and public order”.
No date has been fixed for arraignment of the accused persons.
In his verified Twitter handle, Okeke tweeted: “Having initiated criminal proceedings against the #EndSARS riots promoters at exactly 1052hrs WAT, 09/11/2020, we shall ensure that same is diligently prosecuted in the interest of defence, public safety and public order.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria is country of laws.”
By PRNigeria
