A 70-year-old British citizen, Andrew Martin Wynne, and nine others were arraigned on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 of this year.
The accused are said to have committed the treasonous offense during a week-long nationwide protest, during which they allegedly levied war against Nigeria.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), who brought the charges against them, alleged that the accused broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.
The IGP also alleged that they attempted to force their way into the seat of power, during which they allegedly burned a police station and injured police officers.
They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties, including police stations, a High Court complex, and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.
The alleged offenses were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe, among other locations.
However, all the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
The accused persons are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis, and Abduldalam Zubair.
Counsel for the IGP, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked Justice Emeka Nwite to remand the accused in prison pending trial.
However, counsel for the defendants are vigorously contesting the bail applications for the accused.
Details later.