The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the case involving the #EndBadGovernance protesters who were arraigned in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday
The 76 protesters, aged between 12 and 15, face ten charges, including terrorism, attempted overthrow of the government, and alleged mutiny due to their participation in the nationwide protests.
Their arraignment has sparked backlash from civil society organizations and opposition leaders, who condemned the detention and prosecution of minors and urged the government to resolve the issue promptly.
Fagbemi stated that he cannot change the court’s order remanding the defendants in detention and adjourning the case until January. However, he has instructed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to his office and submit it to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) on Saturday.
In his statement, he said, “I have just learned that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protest for various offenses, including treason. There are issues my office needs to address to make an informed decision.”
He added that he has directed the DPPF to take immediate steps to seek an earlier adjournment date. Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to 67 of the 76 protesters, requiring a N10 million bond for each. Those granted bail, who are under 15, must provide a surety who is a civil servant.
The protesters appeared malnourished, with four of them rushed out of the courtroom due to their inability to stand. They were among those arrested during the nationwide protests from August 1 to 10, which were sparked by widespread economic hardship in Nigeria.
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