Tinubu orders release of minors involved in #EndBadgovernance protests

.Directs Humanitarian Affairs ministry to ensure their welfare, reunion with their parents, guardians

.Orders probe of all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest, detention of the minors

.Falana urges President to also drop case against 101 protesters

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of the minors arrested during the End Bad Governance protests.

Recall that on November 1, the Federal Government arraigned 76 persons who allegedly took part in the protests, and charged them with treason.

Majority of those arraigned were minors who looked malnourished and ill. Four of the minors collapsed in the courtroom on the day.

President Tinubu’s directive for the release of the minors came in the wake of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday.

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SERAP urged the President to “use his leadership position and good offices” to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to secure the “immediate and unconditional release of all #EndBadGovernance protesters, including 32 hungry and malnourished children.”

According to SERAP, these children and other protesters are detained “solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”

The rights group also called for a prompt investigation into the circumstances surrounding these human rights violations, demanding that those responsible be identified, held accountable, and justice provided to the victims.

Announcing the President’s directive, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Monday in Abuja when he addressed State House correspondents, Idris said that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, was asked to drop all charges against the minors immediately and ensure their release.

“There have been enquiries and commentaries about the fate of the minors arrested by the Nigerian Police that were undergoing some legal processes. You also saw what happened in the courtroom.

“And as a result of that, Mr President, because of his very deep commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and without prejudice to the legal processes, has directed the immediate release of all the minors,” he said.

He added that the President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to ensure the welfare of the minors and reunion with their parents or guardians.

Idris said the President also directed that an administrative committee be set up immediately to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and release of the minors.

According to the minister, Tinubu directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and legal processes should be investigated.

He added that anyone found to have committed any infractions, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against them.

Meanwhile, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, to release minors arrested and facing prosecution over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

In a statement, Falana noted that while dropping treason charges against minors is a positive step, it is insufficient. He urged Fagbemi to also discontinue the charges against the remaining 101 protesters.

Falana stated: “Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw the treason charge against the malnourished children, it is expected that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, will formally discontinue this baseless charge by filing a nolle prosequi application at the Federal High Court.

“The Attorney-General should also withdraw the case against the remaining 101 protesters, as there is no credible evidence to support the treason charge from the #EndBadGovernance protests held across multiple states last August.”

“In an attempt to substantiate the serious charge of treason against the 130 defendants, including 29 minors, the Police Prosecutor intended to present items such as 76 Russian flags, two fire extinguishers, two prepaid meters, arrest letters, and suspects’ statements in court, which only risk exposing the Federal Government to further ridicule.”