President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to review the treasonable felony charges filed against a group of underage and malnourished children who appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges have sparked significant national and international backlash, drawing criticism over the treatment of the minors involved.
Following rising public and international embarrassment, President Tinubu directed the Attorney-General on Friday to assess the cases and provide recommendations. The minors were reportedly accused of treason for their participation in #EndBadGovernance protests that swept the country in August. The Nigerian government has faced global condemnation for what critics argue are harsh and unjustified charges against children who took part in peaceful demonstrations.
At a recent hearing, Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to over 70 defendants, including minors, on stringent conditions. Disturbingly, five of the underage defendants reportedly collapsed in the courtroom and required medical attention before being transferred to Kuje Prison due to difficulties in meeting the bail terms. Bail was set at ₦10 million for each defendant, a sum beyond the reach of many of the detained families and supporters.
One of the defense attorneys, Deji Adeyanju, criticized the excessive bail conditions imposed on the defendants, who have been in detention since August. He argued that the terms effectively force the young protesters back into custody, prolonging their suffering.
Human rights and advocacy groups across Nigeria have condemned the government’s actions, accusing President Tinubu of endorsing a harsh and punitive administration. In a series of statements on Friday, they called for the unconditional release of all detained protesters, especially the minors, along with the removal of excessive bail terms and a transparent investigation into alleged abuses against the detainees. Reports have surfaced alleging that the minors faced starvation, physical abuse, and psychological trauma during their detention at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and other centers.
The demands were echoed in a joint statement signed by leaders of various rights organizations, including Comrade Gerald O. Katchy of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Omole Ibukun of the Creative Change Centre, Salako Kayode of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement, and other prominent activists.
The groups argued that the arraignment of the protesters before Justice Obiora Egwuatu underscores a wider indifference by all arms of the Nigerian government to justice and the welfare of citizens. They urged President Tinubu to address these abuses and reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to human rights and fair legal proceedings.
