By Hope James
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 breach of the public peace during the 2020 Endsars protest, Edum News reports.
The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, discharged them on Thursday, after they spent almost four years in custody.
The defendants had in a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to a count charge of breach of the public peace preferred against them by Lagos State Government, were found guilty and convicted of the offence.
The magistrate however, cautioned and discharged them, adding that they had spent almost four years in custody.
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 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 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 to the court to tamper 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 bread winners of their families and still very young.
“They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons”.
