An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court has discharged and acquitted six men charged with breaching the public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protests. The defendants—Daniel Joyinbo, 31; Adigun Sodiq, 28; Kehinde Shola, 32; Salaudeen Kamilu, 29; Sodiq Usseni, 33; and Azeez Isiaka, 34—had pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea bargain agreement.
Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi, after reviewing the plea bargain, found the defendants guilty but chose to caution and discharge them due to their extended period of custody—nearly four years. The plea agreement and their time served were significant factors in the court’s decision.
The Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, presented an amended charge, stating that the defendants had committed the offence on November 23, 2020, at noon in Ebutte Metta, Lagos. He indicated that their conduct had the potential to breach public peace, contravening Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In the courtroom, the defendants’ legal representative, T.D. Ojeshino, appealed for leniency, noting that they were first-time offenders and some were primary breadwinners for their families. Ojeshino highlighted the defendants’ lengthy custody and their apparent remorse as reasons to consider mercy.
The court’s decision reflects a blend of accountability and compassion, acknowledging the time the defendants have already served while emphasizing their readiness to reintegrate into society.