Tinubu Orders Immediate Release Of Minors Arraigned For Hunger Protests

News/Opinion

Tinubu Orders Immediate Release Of Minors Arraigned For Hunger Protests

Reported by Ayooluwa Afolabi

President Bola Tinubu on Monday ordered the immediate release of all minors who were arrested and prosecuted over their alleged participation in August’s #EndBadGovernance protests.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Idris said, “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who the Nigeria Police have arrested without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.

“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to attend to the welfare of these minors immediately and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.

“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.

“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of the government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”

THIS DAY reports that the directive follows an uproar over the trial of a total of 114 people, including 30 children, who were arraigned on Friday and charged with 10 felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny, before Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The minors ranged from 14 to 17 years old.

Egwatu admitted the suspects to N10 million bail each over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.

The judge admitted the defendants to bail shortly after they pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Inspector General (IG) of Police.

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) condemned the trial of minors on allegations of treason, and other offenses, arising from their participation in the protests.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, also commended Tinubu for ordering the release of the underage suspects.

Northern Senators Forum (NSF), led by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, also praised Tinubu for ordering the release of the young boys accused of treason.