MINORS recently released from detention for their involvement in the August 2024 EndBadGovernance protests arrived at Aso Rock on Tuesday, November 5, to meet Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The release followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu after widespread public outrage over the minors’ arrests and convictions.
At the ceremony, Vice President Shettima formally handed over 119 minors, along with other individuals prosecuted for participating in the protests, to the governors of Kaduna and Kano states.
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani and Kano Governor Abba Yusuf were present at the villa to receive the minors, alongside key federal officials, including Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Nentawe Yilwatda, Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal, and Minister of State for Education Tanko Sununu.
The minors’ detention had sparked significant national criticism, with rights groups and activists condemning the treatment of the young detainees and calling for their immediate release.
Earlier today, a federal high court in Abuja dismissed the suit against 119 individuals, including more than 30 minors, who had been charged for their participation in the protests.
Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, granted the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi’s request to take over and terminate the suit, citing constitutional powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge then ordered the immediate release of the accused, most of whom were allegedly minors.
The ICIR reported how the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the release of the detained minors on Monday, November 4, following a nationwide backlash over their recent arraignment.
The protests, which mobilised thousands across Nigeria, called for government transparency, accountability, and an end to bad governance, with the detention and subsequent charges against minors intensifying public condemnation.
The minors had been charged with a 10-count indictment, including alleged treason and conspiracy to destabilize Nigeria, punishable under 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.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana has threatened to sue the FG if the minors (#EndBadGovernance) detained and released are not rehabilitated.
Falana said this while speaking at the launch of the book, ‘Judicial Terrorism’ by Richard Akinnola, where he was the book reviewer, on Tuesday, November 5.
He stated that the minors cannot just be released, noting that the injustice done to them has to be redressed by their rehabilitation.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M