#EndSARS protesters regain freedom following plea bargain with Lagos govt

Six individuals apprehended during the #EndSARS protest four years ago were set free on Thursday after pleading guilty to breach of the public peace preferred against them by the Lagos government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola,32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33 and Azeez Isiaka, 34 who were arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court were discharged after the plea bargain.

After hearing the plea bargain agreement, the Magistrate, Bola Osunsanmi found the six guilty and they were subsequently convicted of the offence.

However, Osunsanmi warned and discharged them while pointing out the four years they spent behind bars.

Speaking earlier, the Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins informed the court that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the public peace.

According to him, the offence contravened Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 but added that they should be sentenced based on their plea.

“My lord, I plead the court to tamper justice with mercy as the defendants are first-time offenders.

“Some are breadwinners of their families and still very young. They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons,” Martins said.