On Friday, September 27th, 2024, the bail variation and trial of 10 activists and socialists illegally detained by the Nigerian government was scheduled to continue at Court 8 of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria.
The judge adjourned the bail variation hearing to October 4th, and the trial to November 8th, 2024.
It is clear that the regime wants to keep the activists in waiting, with serious sentences hanging above their head, in order to intimidate them personally and also send a message to broader layers that want to protest.
The Nigerian government, through the police and the prosecutor, amended the charges to include Comrade Akande Daniel (a member of the Movement for Socialist Alternative, section of the ISA). Akande Daniel was arrested on Sunday, September 1st, and since then has been held in police custody at the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police. The amended charges make him the 11th defendant in the case. Despite an appeal by Daniel’s lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, the judge refused to release him and ordered that he be transferred to prison along with others who haven’t met their bail conditions.
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We will continue to stand with the comrades in detention and all other protesters who have been illegally detained.
The continued attacks on the democratic rights of ordinary people in Nigeria are driven by the regime’s belief that no one has the right to oppose its draconian economic policies. It has singled out activists and socialists for daring to protest, threatening them with the death penalty.
Thanks to the international solidarity campaign, sustained pressure has been placed on the regime. However, it is important to note that close to 1,000 protesters remain in detention across various cells, although nearly 200 have been released on bail or with certain conditions in different parts of the country.
ISp has initiated an international campaign with the demand to release all detained activists. So far, more than 300 MP’s, councilors, trade unionists, academics and activists from 27 countries have signed the petition. We will monitor events and further organise solidarity campaigns. We will not let our brothers and sisters in Nigeria be intimidated.
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As Nigeria approaches its 64th Independence Day on October 1st, activists have called for mass protests nationwide to demand the release of those detained and the immediate dropping of the trumped-up charges against them. Other demands include that the regime stop all anti-poor policies that have devastated the lives of ordinary people. The government has doubled down on its efforts to suppress protesters, with some being invited by security forces to either cancel the protests or face attacks.
We call all left forces, trade unions, movements and activists for continued solidarity against the Nigerian regime. All eyes should be on the #FearlessInOctober protests, called for October 1st.
