Nigerian Court frees #EndBadGovernance minor and adult protesters 

Justice Obiora Egwatu passed the verdict in a brief ruling on Tuesday, striking out the case against the protesters as requested by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), led by Lateef Fagbemi SAN.

Naijaonpoint previously reported that President Bola Tinubu had instructed the AGF on Monday to lawfully facilitate the release of all minors arrested by the Nigerian Police Force during the End Bad Governance protests.

At the resumed hearing, counsel for the AGF, Mohammed Abubakar, told the judge that by virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, the AGF had taken over the case from the Inspector General of Police.

The trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwatu, on Tuesday, struck out the charges following an application by the AGF’s counsel, M. D. Abubakar, to take over and discontinue the suit.

He took the opportunity to discontinue the treason-related cases against the defendants.

The defendants’ legal team did not object to the request for discontinuance.

Subsequently, Justice Egwatu struck out the charges and ordered the defendants’ release from detention.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, recently disclosed at a press briefing at the State House that the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, had been tasked with expediting their release.

“The President has directed that all minors be released and reunited with their families wherever they are in the country. A committee has been established to examine the issues surrounding their arrest, detention, and release. All law enforcement agents involved in the case will be investigated, and anyone found wanting will be held accountable,” he said.

Following widespread reactions to the arraignment and detention of the protesters, Fagbemi stated that his office would need to examine certain aspects of the treason matter to “make an informed decision.”

Fagbemi acknowledged that the court had ordered the defendants to remain in detention (at the Correctional Facility and Borstal Home), with the case adjourned to January 2025. He noted that it is beyond his authority to alter the court’s order.

However, he confirmed that his office has instructed the return of the case file and will seek an earlier hearing date. “It is not within my power to vary the court’s order remanding the defendants in detention centers and adjourning the case to January. However, I have directed the Nigerian Police to transfer the case file to my office and hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) by tomorrow, Saturday, November 2, 2024.” 

All 114 pleaded not guilty, allowing them to apply for bail, which the court granted with conditions, including N10 million each and two sureties of the same amount.