“My Lord, I urge the court to show mercy as the defendants (EndSARS Protesters) have learned their lessons after being in custody since 2020,” Ojeshino pleaded.
An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court has acquitted six men accused of breaching public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protests. The Lagos State Government had charged the defendants—Daniel Joyinbo, 31; Adigun Sodiq, 28; Kehinde Shola, 32; Salaudeen Kamilu, 29; Sodiq Usseni, 33; and Azeez Isiaka, 34—with the offence.
According to Pulse News, The defendants reached a plea bargain agreement, in which they admitted guilt to the charge of public peace disturbance. Following this agreement, Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi found the six men guilty but decided to caution and discharge them. The Magistrate noted that the defendants had already spent nearly four years in custody.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, informed the court of an amended charge against the defendants. He stated that the offence occurred on November 23, 2020, around noon in Ebute Metta, Lagos, where the defendants allegedly conducted themselves in a manner likely to disrupt public peace. The offence contravenes Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Dr. Martins requested the court to sentence the defendants based on their guilty plea. However, the defendants’ lawyer, T.D. Ojeshino, appealed for leniency, highlighting that the defendants were first-time offenders. He emphasized that many of them were breadwinners and had already spent significant time in custody.
“My Lord, I urge the court to show mercy as the defendants have learned their lessons after being in custody since 2020,” Ojeshino pleaded.
In light of these circumstances, the court decided to acquit the men, allowing them to walk free after nearly four years in detention.
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