The Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the treason charges it filed against a group of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
The charges, filed against four teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17, drew widespread attention and sparked public outrage across the country.
The case, which involved a total of 76 individuals initially charged by the Nigeria Police Force for participating in the protests, was officially dropped by the government on Tuesday.
The decision came after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, took over the case.
Prince Fagbemi notified the Federal High Court in Abuja of his decision to discontinue the proceedings against the young protesters.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, formally moved the application for the charges to be withdrawn.
The application was based on sections 174(1)(b) and (c) of the Nigerian Constitution, as amended, as well as Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
To protect the minors’ privacy and well-being, the DPPF also requested that the courtroom be cleared of the young defendants during the proceedings, referencing Section 266(b) of the ACJA and Section 1 of the Child’s Rights Act.
Human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Fanala, SAN, who represented the minors, along with other defense lawyers, did not oppose the government’s application to drop the charges.
Following the application, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court officially struck out the case, marking the end of the legal proceedings against the minors.
The saga began last week when the Nigeria Police Force marshalled the four teenagers, along with other protesters, into court for arraignment.
Eyewitnesses reported that the minors appeared malnourished, visibly weak, and looked unwell, leading to a disturbing scene in the courtroom when the four teenagers collapsed.
Reports from the courtroom indicated that the affected teenagers were visibly ill, raising concerns about their treatment and the conditions under which they had been detained.
The minors were subsequently removed from the charge sheet, and the police proceeded with the arraignment of the remaining adult defendants, who were granted bail under stringent conditions.
News of the charges against the minors, however, quickly spread, leading to a public outcry and strong criticism from human rights advocates and concerned citizens.
The arrest and detention of the minors were widely condemned, with many arguing that the charges were an overreach, particularly given the young ages of those involved.
Following the backlash, the Attorney-General of the Federation intervened, ordering the police to transfer the case file to his office for a thorough review.
The controversy took another turn when President Bola Tinubu responded to the public’s concerns by directing the immediate withdrawal of the charges against the minors.
In a statement from the presidency, Tinubu also ordered an in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding the minors’ arrest and detention.
The president’s swift intervention highlighted the sensitivity of the case and the government’s awareness of the public’s discontent.
Many human rights activists applauded the government’s decision to drop the charges and called for better handling of similar cases in the future.
“This is a victory for justice,” said a local human rights lawyer. “Children who stand up for what they believe in should not be treated as criminals. This decision by the government is a positive step towards protecting our young citizens’ rights.”
Other advocates echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the justice system must be careful not to impose harsh measures on minors, especially in cases involving peaceful protest and civil expression.
“This was a clear case of overreach,” another lawyer commented. “We must ensure that our youth are not punished for seeking a better future.”
The #EndBadGovernance protests have brought renewed attention to issues of governance, accountability, and freedom of expression in Nigeria, especially among the country’s youth.
