A Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba has convicted six individuals—Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Usseni, and Azeez Isiaka—who were arrested during the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Lagos.
Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi convicted them after they pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of causing a breach of peace, as brought by the Lagos State Government. Despite the conviction, the court ordered their release because they had already served more time in custody than the maximum punishment for the offense, which is three months imprisonment or a fine of N15,000.
On Thursday, August 22, the prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dr. Babajide Martins, informed Magistrate Osunsanmi that the charge against the convicts had been amended.
The revised charge read: “That you, Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Usseni, and Azeez Isiaka, on November 23, 2020, around 12:00hrs at Ebute Metta, Lagos, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, thereby committing an offense punishable under Section 168(d) of the Lagos State Law, 2015.”
After the charge was read, the defendants pleaded guilty. Dr. Martins then requested the court to impose a sentence according to the law.
The defense counsel, Tajudeen Ojeshino, pleaded for leniency, noting that the convicts were first-time offenders, some of whom were the primary breadwinners for their families. He highlighted that they had already spent four years in custody and had learned their lessons.
Magistrate Osunsanmi confirmed that the convicts understood the charge and the potential maximum sentence. In her judgment, she convicted the defendants but released them due to the extended time they had already spent in prison. She also issued a warning against future criminal behavior.
