Former British Member of Parliament and long-time human rights advocate Dave Nellist has called on the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately and unconditionally drop all treason charges previously filed against young Nigerians who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Nellist, known for his outspoken support for civil liberties and democratic movements worldwide, condemned the initial prosecution of over 100 protesters—many of them minors—who were arrested during peaceful demonstrations in August 2024. The protests, sparked by rising economic hardship and calls for political reform, drew widespread attention both within Nigeria and internationally.
“These young people were exercising their democratic right to protest against injustice and hardship,” Nellist said in a statement. “Charging them with treason was not only disproportionate—it was a dangerous attempt to silence dissent.”
Although the Federal High Court in Abuja has since struck out the charges following a directive from President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Nellist emphasized that the government must go further by ensuring accountability for the arrests and conditions of detention, which reportedly led to several minors fainting in court due to malnourishment.
He also urged the Nigerian government to uphold its constitutional obligations to protect freedom of expression and assembly, and to engage constructively with the concerns raised by the protesters.
“The world is watching,” Nellist added. “Nigeria’s youth deserve to be heard, not punished.”