A Nigerian legal practitioner and academic, Timothy Abiodun Olatokunbo Tugbiyele, has appealed to the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to withdraw the treason charges levied against individuals arrested during the widespread #EndBadGovernance protests that took place across the nation in August.

As a former lecturer of the Attorney General, Tugbiyele drew upon his expertise to underscore the fundamental principle that peaceful demonstrations and expressions of dissent do not, in any manner, constitute treasonous acts.

He highlighted the critical distinction between legitimate exercises of constitutional rights and treasonable offences.
Tugbiyele’s plea emphasised the paramount importance of balancing justice with mercy, urging Fagbemi to reexamine the charges and spare the protesters from prolonged and potentially unjust detention.

By doing so, Tugbiyele advocated for a nuanced approach that upholds the sacred principles of human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.

“It would be profoundly unjust to detain these young people for months only for the charges to be eventually dropped,” Tugbiyele stated.

He lamented the unnecessary hardship and prolonged detention that could result from maintaining the charges and advocated for the immediate release of those detained.

Tugbiyele said, “I was called to the Bar in 1980, making me your senior, as your senior and former teacher, I am appealing to you to reconsider these charges.

“Please, if the accusations are untrue, I would be relieved if you could deny them and withdraw the charges.

“Demonstrating is not treason, please show mercy and do not keep these young people in detention for extended periods. It would be unjust to detain them for two, three, four, or even five months, only for the charges to eventually be withdrawn.
“I have been following the recent demonstrations, some of which turned violent, and I understand that some demonstrators have been arrested and are now facing charges of treason.

“I must be honest, I have not yet seen the official charge sheet. However, I heard a senior government official address the public, claiming that the demonstrators attempted to overthrow the government and urging people to wait for the next elections for change.”

He said in a video that a top lawyer—believed to be representing the government—alleged that the demonstrators are being sponsored by foreign interests.

He said, “I believe that these demonstrators are being charged with treason merely to discourage other Nigerians from protesting.

“The demonstrators assert that they were protesting against hunger and bad governance, which are pressing issues for many Nigerians. How can protesting against such issues be equated with treason?

“I am appealing to the Honorable Attorney General, Chief Lateef Fagbemi. Although I have never met Chief Fagbemi in person, I have seen him from a distance at social events. I understand he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, while I was a junior lecturer at the Nigerian Law School in Victoria Island.

“I do not recall Chief Fagbemi as one of my students, but I remember some of my students from that period, such as Honorable Babatunde Ogala, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Niyi Ogulade, and Bola Ladna.”

“I was called to the Bar in 1980, making me your senior. As your senior and former teacher, I am appealing to you to reconsider these charges. Please, if the accusations are untrue, I would be relieved if you could deny them and withdraw the charges,” he added.

He said that Fagbemi, as a member of a distinguished profession and not just another politician, should act with fairness and integrity.