Protesters face treason charges

Ten people who took part in last month’s protests across Nigeria have been charged with treason and other serious offences at the High Court in Abuja. BBC News reports that all of the accused pleaded not guilty. The demonstrations were called in response to the economic turmoil the country is facing. They turned violent in some places as protesters clashed with security forces leaving at least seven dead, according to police, though rights groups have put the death toll at 23. There were also nearly 700 arrests. As well as treason, the suspects were charged with the destruction of public property and injuring police officers. They were accused of working with a British citizen ‘to destabilise Nigeria by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’, according to the charge sheet. They were remanded in custody. Rights group Amnesty International earlier criticised the legal process and called the trial ‘a sham’.