Nigerian President Orders Release After Minister of Justice Says Trial of Minors Is Not Against the Law

• Nigerian leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has instructed the federation’s attorney general, Lateef Fagbemi, to ensure the immediate release of some minors.
• Africa’s most populous country is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis that led to deadly protests in August that included some minors.
• Despite the anger, Fagbemi said there was no law in the country banning the prosecution of minors

legit.ng Journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over nine years of experience in governance in Nigeria.

FCT, Abuja – Tearful, exhausted and exhausted looking, landscapes The charges against the teenage boys at the federal high court in Abuja on Friday, November 7, sparked widespread reactions, mostly condemnatory.

At least two people while taking their defense in court minors released now and two other people, said to be adults, collapsed on the scaffolding.

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Children were among more than 100 people arrested during ‘Ending Bad Governance in Nigeria’ protest was held Against worsening living costs in August. Before being charged with treason, a crime punishable by death in Nigeria, police had detained them for more than 90 days after receiving a court order to that effect.

Most of the minors disclosed that they were arrested at various points in Kano. kaduna He was caught in some states under circumstances unrelated to the protests.

17-year-old Mustafa Ibrahim, who is currently in a hospital bed CanoeHe explained that it was just a matter of bad luck that he was arrested while he was on his way to buy rice, Nigeria’s staple food, for his family to eat.

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Speaking with great difficulty, Ibrahim said: Daily Trust:

“I was arrested while I was going to buy rice for my mother. “I didn’t know there was any protest, but they arrested me on the way.”

Due to his condition, Ibrahim is currently in isolation in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Another former detainee, Fahad Ibrahim, complained about mistreatment by law enforcement officials.

‘End Bad Governance’ protester said:

“Some of us were beaten and insulted for no reason. In fact, most of us were not allowed to shower for the first two or three weeks. If you were sick the only thing they gave you was paracetamol.”

Trial of minors: From a legal perspective

There are conflicting interpretations of the law regarding the detention of boys.

Akintayo Balogun, a private lawyer based in Abuja, said the Child Rights Act does not allow any child to be criminally prosecuted and sentenced to death.

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CNN I quoted him It was wrong to bring minors before a federal supreme court, saying it was wrong “except for the government’s failure to prove that all of the boys were over 19 from the outset.” Many government critics agree with this school of thought.

However, the attorney general of the federation (AGF) and Nigerian justice minister, Lateef Fagbemi, insisted that there was no law in Nigeria prohibiting the prosecution of minors.

Briefing journalists on a recent court order to release over 100 ‘No Bad Governance’ protesters (minors and adults) whom the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) had earlier brought to court, Nigeria’s senior lawyer (SAN) explained the following :

“Let me take this opportunity to clarify something. We get the impression that various theories have arisen because they are children and minors. “There is no law in this country that says minors cannot be prosecuted.”

He cursed the president Bola Tinubugesture of forgiveness upon compassion.

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Fagbemi said:

“An examination of the law and the constitution leaves no other conclusion than that the federal supreme court has jurisdiction over treason and similar matters.

“So whatever the case may be, the President has turned the page with the decision to release these young men.”

Human rights lawyer Festus Ogün speaks

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Festus Mealfully condemned the prosecution of children and minors for treason for allegedly participating in the recent ‘End Gad Governance’ protests across the country.

The lawyer told L:egit.ng The arrest, detention and trial of minors by the Nigerian police on charges of treason and attempting to overthrow a legitimate government, among other charges, is contrary to numerous national, regional and international laws.

He said:

“Calling innocent children out of school ‘suspicious’ is unacceptable.

“The malnourished and victimized children are not suspect, especially considering that the protest is neither treason nor a crime. It is a right.”

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Social commentator reacted to the detention of children

Meanwhile, Adigun Muse, former head of the department of political science at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), said detaining weak children and taking them to court was a “bad point of view”.

Muse accused some people of trying to demarket Nigeria and embarrass it in front of the international community.

he said legit.ng:

“What we are seeing is a blatant disregard for the well-being and dignity of young citizens and I condemn it.

“The protection of children is non-negotiable, so my advice to the authorities is to treat these young children with the compassion they deserve.”

Analyst condemns trial of minors for treason

In the same vein, socio-political analyst Segun Akinleye condemned the detention of minors for their participation in protests against hunger and alleged mismanagement.

Akinleye criticized the Tinubu government’s treatment of minors, describing it as a “tactic to terrorize Nigerians”.

he said legit.ng:

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“Several minors who were part of the ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ protest have been arrested for alleged terrorism.

“In my opinion, this is a tactic by the Tinubu administration to terrorize Nigerians, starting with the most vulnerable. They want to criminalize protests and this is unacceptable.”

Freed minors meet Shettima at the Villa

Before, legit.ng reported this The minors, who were recently released from custody for participating in the ‘End Bad Governance’ protests in August 2024, visited Aso Rock Villa to meet Vice President Kashim Shettima.

At the ceremony, Shettima formally handed over to the governors of Kaduna and Kano states more than 100 minors and others prosecuted for their participation in the protests.

Source: Legit.ng