Amnesty International has condemned the stringent bail conditions imposed on the 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters facing treason charges.
On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail of N10 million to each of the protesters, requiring them to provide sureties who are property owners in Abuja and to submit the property documents to the court.
Following the ruling, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, voiced concern over the excessive nature of these bail conditions. He criticised the use of such stringent measures to unjustly prolong the detention of activists.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the Nigerian authorities’ use of harsh bail conditions as a tool to justify arbitrary detentions and to suppress activists’ right to peacefully assemble,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi further noted that the 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters, along with others detained across Nigeria for peacefully protesting against corruption and poverty between August 1-10, should never have been imprisoned.
“The Nigerian authorities must respect their international human rights obligations by protecting and facilitating the right to peaceful assembly. The ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders, journalists, whistleblowers, and activists must stop,” Sanusi added.