THE Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the case of the #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned in the Federal High Court Abuja on Friday.
The protesters, 75 in number between the ages of 12 and 15, were charged with 10 counts of terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny over their participation in the nationwide protest.
Their arraignment has since generated backlash at the Federal Government from civil society organisations and oppositions leaders, who condemned the detention and prosecution of minors. They asked the government to quickly look into the matter and resolve it.
In a statement on Friday night, the AGF admitted that he is aware of the case but said there are some issues his office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable him take an informed decision.
He said that it is not within his power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. He, however, noted that he has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to his office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) on Saturday.
The statemet reads, “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).”
Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to 67 of the 76 protesters that were arraigned to the tune of N10m each.
Those granted bail, who are below 15 years, are expected to present one surety who must be a civil servant.
The protesters who are mainly minors, looked malnourished as four of them were hurriedly rushed out of the courtroom as they couldn’t stand on their feet.
Looking very sickly, they wriggled in pain on the floor of the courtroom.
All seventy-six of them were arrested and detained during the August 1 to 10, nationwide protest in the country which was sparked by widespread economic hardship that led many Nigerians to take to the streets to express their grievances.