An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court has discharged and acquitted six men —Daniel Joyinbo (31), Adigun Sodiq (28), Kehinde Shola (32), Salaudeen Kamilu (29), Sodiq Usseni (33) and Azeez Isiaka (34) — charged with breaching the public peace during the 2020 #EndSars protest, News About Nigeria reports.
The magistrate, Mrs. Bola Osunsanmi, discharged them on Thursday after they spent almost four years in custody.
In a plea bargain agreement, the defendants pleaded guilty to a count charge of breach of the public peace preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
They were found guilty and convicted of the offence.
The magistrate, however, cautioned and discharged them, stating that they had spent almost four years in custody and urging them to be law-abiding citizens moving forward.
Earlier, the Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, told the court that he had an amended charge.
He stated that the defendants committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2020, at noon, at Ebutte Metta, Lagos.
According to him, the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace.
He also noted 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 with the court to temper justice with mercy.
He said, “My lord, I plead the court to tamper justice with mercy as the defendants are first-time offenders.
“Some are breadwinners in their families and still very young.
“They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons.
