Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken steps to withdraw treason charges against 32 minors who were recently arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The AGF disclosed late on Friday his intent to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to review specific issues related to the case.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to make an informed decision,” Fagbemi stated. He emphasized that while he cannot change the court’s decision to remand the minors until January, he has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to his office for further review.
In his statement, Fagbemi also announced that he instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) to initiate procedures for an earlier court date, hinting that the minors may not have to wait until January. “I have further directed the DPPF to immediately initiate steps to request an earlier adjournment date,” he said.
Sources within the Federal Ministry of Justice confirmed that the IGP had already complied with the AGF’s request, and the case file was in the AGF’s hands. The court is expected to reconvene this week, with a source stating, “The police have submitted the case file, and the parties are working together. The court will reconvene early this week.”
Marshall Abubakar, the defense counsel for all 119 defendants in the case, expressed optimism that the charges against the minors would soon be dismissed, thanks to the AGF’s intervention. “The government has been calling; the AGF has called. I think, most likely, by this week, we will get the charges thrown out,” Abubakar said.
The defense team has also raised concerns about the treatment of the minors, who are being held by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Intelligence Response Team (IRT). Abubakar highlighted the lack of proper juvenile detention facilities, saying, “The children were taken to IRT SARS. There is a big hall there where they are kept because there is actually no Borstal Centre.”
A source familiar with the proceedings revealed that the AGF’s office is contemplating filing an affidavit of urgency and an application on Monday to expedite the case. “If the application is granted, the case will come up on Tuesday. Hopefully, the case will be discontinued,” the source noted.
Human Rights Groups and Activists Call for Justice
Human rights advocates have been vocal about the situation, demanding an end to the minors’ detention. Activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju voiced alarm over the fate of two minors unaccounted for since their initial arrest. According to Adeyanju, the two children, listed on a prior remand warrant, were not presented in court on Friday as expected.
“We don’t know their whereabouts or what has happened to them,” Adeyanju said, calling on the AGF to use his influence to end the case. He also disclosed that seven other arrested protesters were not arraigned on Friday due to illness, which led to their names being temporarily removed from the charge sheet.
“We asked the police to release them since the court had discharged them and struck out their names from the charge, but the police refused,” Adeyanju added, explaining that the unwell protesters were taken back into police custody despite the court’s decision.
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Outcry Over Allegations of Mistreatment and Starvation
Criticism of the treatment of the minors intensified after video footage surfaced showing some of the children fainting in court, sparking public outcry. In response to a statement from the IGP suggesting that the fainting was staged, the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria (NCMN) and #EndBadGovernance protest organizers strongly condemned the police’s remarks.
“The IG’s assertion that the minors fainting in court was staged is utterly unacceptable,” said NCMN National Secretary Ahmad Ashir. “To suggest that these minors fainted intentionally disregards the trauma they may have experienced. It’s imperative to prioritize their health and ensure they receive adequate medical care and psychological support.”
Hassan Soweto, a spokesperson for the #EndBadGovernance organizers, also criticized the police’s claims, describing the statements as “profoundly insensitive” to the minors’ experiences of alleged starvation and abuse. “It’s an outright insult,” Soweto said, demanding the children’s immediate release.