The court held that a careful examination of the video showed neither appellant called on anyone to take up arms or urged the commission of any crime, contrary to what had been alleged in the original charge.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Maiduguri has quashed the convictions and five-year jail sentences handed down to two men, Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as Babayo, and Mohammed Bukar, alias Awana, who had been found guilty by the Borno State High Court of inciting public disturbance in connection with videos linked to the "EndBadGovernance" protest movement.
In two separate but related judgments delivered on July 21, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court, comprising Justices Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu, Hannatu Azumi Laja Balogun, and Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola, unanimously held that the trial court erred in convicting both men, discharged and acquitted them, and returned verdicts of not guilty on the two-count charges they had faced.
Background To The Case
Mohammed and Bukar were among seven persons originally arraigned before the High Court of Borno State, sitting in Maiduguri, on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and forming a group to incite public disturbance, contrary to Sections 60 and 79 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State, 2023.
