Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the release of minors arrested and facing prosecution over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
This is as he called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to discontinue the charges against the remaining 101 protesters, stating that there was no proof to support the charge of treason against them.
President Bola Tinubu, earlier on Monday, directed the AGF to do everything possible to ensure the immediate release of minors detained by the Nigeria Police in connection with the recent protests without prejudice to whatever legal processes are ongoing.
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.
He said the President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the minors’ welfare and ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
The minister also stated that Tinubu directed that an administrative committee 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.
Idris added that the President directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes be investigated, adding that disciplinary action will be taken against any government official found culpable.
However, in a statement sent to PUNCH Online on Monday, Falana stated that dropping treason charges against minors is a positive step but not enough, saying that the AGF should formally discontinue the charge by filing an application at the Federal High Court.
The statement read, “In view of the directive of President Bola Tinubu that the treason charge against the malnourished children be withdrawn, it is hoped that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN will formally discontinue the frivolous charge by filing a nolle prosequi application at the Federal High Court.
“The Attorney-general of the Federation should also discontinue the charge pending against the remaining 101 protesters
as there is no scintilla of evidence to support the charge of treason arising from the #endbadgovernance protests that took place in several states last August.”
Falana also stated that the Police Prosecutor is set to tender some evidence in court in a desperate bid to prove the treason charge against the 130 defendants.
“However, in a desperate bid to prove the grave charge of treason against the 130 defendants, including 29 minors and thereby expose the Federal Government of Nigeria to unprecedented ridicule, the Police Prosecutor had set out to tender 76 Russian flags, two fire extinguishers, two prepaid meters, letters of arrest and statements of the suspects at the trial court,” he added.
Olugbenga Ige @Punch
