The defendants were arraigned on Monday before Magistrate Bapetel at the Chief Magistrate Court, Ganye, on charges bordering on conspiracy and disturbance of public peace.

They were granted bail on Wednesday, but their counsel described the conditions attached to the bail as “stringent” and difficult to fulfil.

According to the defence lawyer, Barrister Naptoye Obidah, the court ordered the defendants to produce the Chairman of Ganye Local Government Council and the District Head of Ganye as sureties – figures he said are closely aligned with the existing political structure in the state.

Reacting to the bail terms, Obidah said the conditions effectively undermined the purpose of granting bail.

“This is like granting bail with the right hand and taking it back with the left,” he told SaharaReporters.

He added that his clients were charged based on a Police First Information Report and had remained in custody simply for expressing displeasure toward the governor at a public political event.

On January 28, Governor Fintiri was openly booed by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters during a political gathering in Ganye, an incident that drew widespread attention and debate.

The protest was widely interpreted as a public display of dissatisfaction with the governor by some party supporters.

Following the incident, security operatives reportedly arrested several persons, though only two were arraigned before the court.

Civil rights advocates have expressed concern over the prosecution, warning that criminalising booing at a political rally raises questions about political tolerance and freedom of expression.

They also cautioned that bail conditions tied to senior local authorities could be structured in a way that makes compliance difficult.

The Adamawa State PDP Publicity Secretary, Victor Dogo, denied that the party instigated or influenced the prosecution, dismissing claims of political retaliation.

According to Sahara Reporters, efforts to get a response from the Adamawa State Government were unsuccessful as of press time. Calls and a WhatsApp message sent to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, were not returned.