A FEDERAL High Court (FHC) in Abuja has thrown out the suit against 76 persons charged for participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest in August.
The judge, Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the suit on Tuesday, November 5, following an application by the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Abubakar, to take over and terminate the suit.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), said at the proceedings that he is exercising his power under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
After the judge, Egwuatu, granted the AGF’s request, the AGF then asked for the invocation of the same clause of the Constitution to end the trial of the 119 accused.
The request was granted by Egwuatu, who struck out the charges after several lawyers for the accused did not oppose.
The judge ordered the accused, the majority of whom are allegedly minors, to be released from prison immediately, even though they were not present in court.
The ICIR reported that President Bola Tinubu on Monday, November 4, ordered the release of minors arrested, detained, and charged to court for alleged involvement in the EndBadGovernance protests, following widespread outrage over their recent arraignment.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while briefing the State House correspondents shortly after the President swore in seven newly appointed ministers.
The arrest, detention and subsequent arraignment of the boy protesters sparked national backlash, with many Nigerians and human rights groups condemning what they described as inhumane and unjust treatment of children.
The ICIR reports that during the #EndBadGovernance protests, which drew thousands of Nigerians to the streets in a movement advocating for governmental transparency, accountability and an end to police brutality, several young protesters were arrested and detained. Among those detained were minors, reportedly held in various facilities under challenging conditions.
Recall that the minors who appeared in court on Friday, November 1, have been charged with a 10-count charge bordering on alleged treason and conspiracy to commit a felony with intent to destabilise Nigeria, an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act.
However, the incident was heightened when some minors, who were among 76 persons set to be arraigned by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), collapsed in the court on Friday, November 1. One of the defendants slumped while the judge was reading the charges.
While announcing the president’s directive for their release, the information minister stated that it was without prejudice to whatever legal processes are ongoing.
Tinubu further directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to attend to the welfare of the minors promptly and to assist in facilitating their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians, wherever they may be in the country.
A reporter with the ICIR
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