A complaint brought by one Kenechukwu Okeke, a human rights activist, against Davido, Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, and 47 other celebrities and activists over their participation during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020 has been dismissed by Justice Bello Jawu of an Abuja High Court.

The judge also barred the Nigeria Police Force and Okeke from prosecuting the people for their roles in the #EndSARS protest, according to a judgment issued on Friday, July 2.

Okeke filed criminal charges against the 50 people in November 2020 in an Abuja magistrate court, alleging that they organized the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

He claimed that the defendants engaged “with intent to assist in the promotion of an unlawful assembly under the guise or composition of #EndSARS” in the lawsuit.

Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Tuface, Kanu Nwankwo, Davido, Banky W, Uche Jombo, Kiki Mordi, Falz, Yul Edochie, Flavour, Yemi Alade, Peter Okoye, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Paul Okoye, Burna Boy, Modupe “Moe” Odele, and others are among the 50 people named in the complaint.

The celebrities, on the other hand, had filed a request in a magistrate’s court to have the accusations dismissed, while Okeke had filed a counter-move to have their countersuit dismissed. In its judgment, the magistrate’s court ordered the FCT commissioner of police to investigate the defendants and report back to the court in two weeks.

However, Justice Kawu decided on Friday that the complaint brought by Deji Adeyanju in his representative role is valid and that the high court is acting in its supervisory authority over the magistrate’s court in relation to Okeke’s criminal proceedings.

While reacting to the verdict, Samuel Ihensekhien, lawyer for Adeyanju and 49 other #EndSARS protestors, said it proves that peaceful protest is lawful and not a crime in Nigeria.

“By virtue of today’s ruling, his motion of dismissal of this substantive case has been dismissed by the honourable FCT high court,” he said.

The consequence of it is that the court will hear the substantive application to formally dismiss the pending criminal complaint and charge before the magistrate’s court.”he said

The case was postponed until September 7 by the court.