An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday discharged and acquitted six men who were imprisoned over the 2020 #EndSARS protest.
The defendants — Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola,32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33 and Azeez Isiaka, 34 — were charged with breach of public peace.
After listening to the plea bargain agreement, Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi pronounced the defendants guilty and convicted them of the offence.
She, however, cautioned and discharged them, adding that they had spent almost four years in custody.
Earlier, the director for public prosecutions (DPP), Babajide Martins, told the court that he had an amended charge.
He said that the defendants committed the offence on November 23, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. at Ebutte Metta, Lagos.
According to him, the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the 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, 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.
