President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of minors who were arrested and arraigned for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Recall that the arraignment of these minors on treason charges caused widespread criticism following the arraignment and collapse of 4 minors due to exhaustion and hunger.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced the President’s directive, which ensures the minors’ release without affecting ongoing legal processes.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction will provide welfare support and facilitate reunions with their parents or guardians.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, held in August, aimed to address socio-economic issues in Nigeria but turned violent. This led to the arrest of 76 individuals, including minors, on charges of treason and inciting a military coup. The Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP) condemned the detention and arraignment of minors, stating it was not in the “best interests of the child.”
Several politicians, including Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso , Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, criticized the government’s actions, emphasizing accountability.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has requested the case file of the minors, indicating a review of the treasonable felony charges.
