An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday discharged and acquitted six men who had been charged with breaching public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
The individuals—Daniel Joyinbo, 31; Adigun Sodiq, 28; Kehinde Shola, 32; Salaudeen Kamilu, 29; Sodiq Usseni, 33; and Azeez Isiaka, 34—had initially pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching public peace as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Lagos State Government.
After reviewing the plea bargain, Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi found the defendants guilty but opted to caution and discharge them, noting that they had already spent nearly four years in custody.
Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, presented an amended charge to the court, stating that the defendants had committed the offense on November 23, 2020, in Ebutte Metta, Lagos.
The charge accused them of acting in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace.
He said that the offence contravened Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Martins, however, urged the court to sentence the defendants based on their plea.
Their legal representative, Mr T.D Ojeshino, pleaded to the court to tamper justice with mercy.
“My lord, I plead the court to tamper justice with mercy as the defendants are first time offenders.
“Some are bread winners of their families and still very young.
“They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons,” he said.
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