November 01, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted N10 million bail to each of the 72 of 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned on Friday, by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), including 28 Minors and 44 other protesters arrested from several locations; Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Plateau, Katsina States, and the FCT.
THEWILL earlier reported that four minors among the defendants collapsed while in court on Friday, as the charge was about to be read, forcing Justice Egwuatu to abruptly halt proceedings.
One of the lawyers representing the defendants, Deji Adeyanju, earlier disclosed that the minors, ages between 12 and 15, had spent over 80 days in police custody. They were allegedly arrested on August 3 and 4, 2024, and have since been in detention.
Adeyanju said the minors are among many others who were arrested in Abuja and Kano state on August 3 and 4, 2024, during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
They were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on Treasonable felony, Rioting, destruction of public property, assaulting security officials, and looting/theft of public property, among others.
A charge sheet signed by its team of lawyers, led by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, the Police alleged that the defendants, alongside others that are currently at large, had between July 31 and August 4, at Abuja and Kano metropolis, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspired together to commit a felony.
It alleged that the defendants committed treason, an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 97 of the Code.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them as four minors were excluded from taking their plea due to ill health. They are to be arraigned at a later date.
Admitting them on bail on Friday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu remanded the adults at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, while the minors are to be remanded at the Bostal Children’s Home, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Justice Obiora granted them bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties, each in like sum. For the adults, the Judge said the surety should be a civil servant and must provide a valid Identity Card, residential address, and passport-sized photographs, among others. The minors could either provide a parent or sibling as surety, with similar particulars.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International, Nigeria, have condemned the arrest and detention of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria.
In a post on its official X platform, SERAP called on President Bola Tinubu to release the protesters and drop all charges of ‘treasonable felony’ against them.
“The Tinubu administration must unconditionally release the 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters and drop all charges of ‘treasonable felony’ against them, or face legal action. No one should ever be punished for the peaceful exercise of their human rights”, it said while accusing the government of an attempt to instill fear, evade scrutiny, deny citizens their fundamental rights, and entrench a culture of impunity in Nigeria.
On its part, Amnesty International denounced the arrest and detention of minors and asked the Nigerian federal government to release all detained individuals.
“Amnesty International condemns President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of minors who participated in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. The attempts to subject these minors to a sham trial over alleged ‘treason’ demonstrate the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law. Authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally”, the organisation stated.
Highlighting the troubling situation of children in detention, AI noted that “in Katsina, at least 12 children under 16 years old were detained merely for being on the streets during the #EndBadGovernance protests. These children, with their entire lives ahead of them, are now at risk of being tried on fabricated charges.”
The organisation pointed out that another group of 43 protesters is facing similar treason charges in the same Federal High Court in Abuja, warning that the Nigerian authorities are escalating their efforts to deprive people of their right to peaceful protest through horrifying detentions and sham trials.
“The unlawful detention of these minors, subjecting them to traumatic experiences for exercising their right to peaceful protest, is unacceptable. The government must release all of them immediately and unconditionally”, it decried.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
