The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has initiated steps to drop the charges against 32 minors facing trial before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja. This decision follows concerns over their treatment and the circumstances of their detention.
Shortly after the arraignment, Fagbemi announced late Friday his intention to assume control of the case from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), noting his office’s interest in reviewing certain issues. “There are some matters that require my office’s examination to reach an informed decision,” Fagbemi said.
While unable to alter the court’s order that placed the minors in detention until a January hearing, Fagbemi directed the police to transfer the case file to his office, where it would be managed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPF). “I’ve instructed the DPPF to seek an earlier court date,” he added.
A source within the Federal Ministry of Justice confirmed that the case file has been handed over to the AGF, and actions to dismiss the charges are now underway. The source further stated that the court will likely reconvene early this week rather than the previously scheduled January 24, 2025.
Defense counsel for all 119 defendants, Marshall Abubakar, confirmed the AGF’s involvement, stating, “The AGF has been in touch, and it seems likely the charges against the minors will be dropped this week.”
Abubakar explained that the minors, detained along with other remanded protesters, are currently held at a SARS facility, noting the lack of a functional Borstal system for juvenile offenders. “The children are housed in a large hall due to the absence of a Borstal Centre,” he said.
An inside source hinted that the AGF’s office is preparing to submit an affidavit of urgency to expedite proceedings, with the possibility of the case being heard as soon as Tuesday. “If approved, the charges may be discontinued,” the source said.
Meanwhile, human rights activist Deji Adeyanju raised concerns about the whereabouts of two children who were not presented in court on Friday, though they were included on the original remand list. Adeyanju urged the AGF to leverage his office to discontinue the case, adding, “We struggled to bring these children to court, and two of them remain unaccounted for. Their names were on the warrant, but they were absent in court.”
Adeyanju also highlighted the plight of seven other protesters who were excluded from proceedings due to illness, noting that the police returned them to custody despite their names being struck from the charge sheet.
Additionally, the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria (NCMN) and organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests condemned recent statements by the IG suggesting the minors’ collapse in court was staged. NCMN National Secretary Ahmad Ashir said, “The IG’s claims are insensitive and disregard the trauma these minors may have experienced. They need proper medical and psychological support.”
Hassan Soweto, a spokesperson for the protest organizers, also demanded the children’s release, calling the IG’s comments “profoundly insensitive” and “an outright insult” to children enduring harsh conditions over the past three months.
