#EndBadGovernance Activists Trapped in Endless Legal Limbo as Treason Trial Drags On
Nearly a year after nationwide protests erupted against mounting economic hardship and perceived governance failures, the #EndBadGovernance movement continues to face a daunting legal battle, with eleven of its activists embroiled in a protracted treason trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. As of June 29, 2025, their case is characterized by persistent adjournments and mounting frustration from defense teams and human rights advocates, who decry the proceedings as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent.
The activists, identified as Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Daniel Akande, Mosiu Sodeeq, Angel Love Innocent, Bashir Bello, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Buhari Lawal, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, were arrested during the August 2024 mass protests which called for an end to economic suffering and better governance. They were later charged by the Inspector General of Police with grave offenses including "conspiracy to commit treason, attempting to destabilize Nigeria, seeking to remove the president, waging war against the government, and inciting mutiny."
Courtroom Drags and Police Warnings
Reports from the Federal High Court this week paint a picture of judicial exasperation. On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the court again adjourned the treason trial of the 11 activists until October 9, 2025. This latest adjournment was reportedly due to the prosecution's request for more time, necessitated by the appearance of a new prosecuting counsel. The previous counsel was allegedly "embroiled in a corruption issue and has been dismissed," according to Michael Lenin, one of the accused.
Defence lawyers, led by Barrister Deji Adeyanju and Barrister Marshall, vehemently opposed the adjournment, arguing against the continuous delays that have plagued the trial since it commenced in November 2024. In a notable development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Police Force over these repeated delays. The court indicated that the case could be struck out if the prosecution continues to stall the proceedings, signaling growing judicial impatience with the state's handling of the politically sensitive trial.
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), a group supporting the activists, continues to assert that the government's case is flimsy, reportedly hinging on the activists merely carrying placards with the message "End Bad Government." They argue that the inability of the prosecution to consistently appear or present their case demonstrates a lack of substantive evidence.
Human Rights Concerns and Calls for Freedom
Human rights organizations, both local and international, remain highly critical of the charges and the protracted legal process. Amnesty International has consistently voiced concerns, highlighting that "protesting against anti-poor policies is not tantamount to treason" and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
Civil society groups view the treason charges as a deliberate tactic to criminalize peaceful dissent and intimidate citizens from exercising their fundamental right to protest. The endless cycle of adjournments is seen not as a pursuit of justice, but as a strategy to exhaust the defendants, their legal teams, and their supporters, effectively stifling future activism.
As the October adjournment looms, the #EndBadGovernance activists remain in legal limbo, their freedom constrained by ongoing court proceedings that critics argue are designed to punish rather than prove guilt. The case continues to be a litmus test for civil liberties and the right to peaceful assembly in Nigeria under the current administration.
