The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has instructed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file of the 76 protesters arraigned for treason during the #EndBadGovernance protests. This directive was issued in a statement on Friday, November 1, 2024, following significant public backlash regarding the treatment of the suspects, many of whom have been described as minors.
The protesters, who were granted bail set at N10 million each, had their case adjourned until January 2025. In his statement, Fagbemi emphasized the necessity of reviewing the case to make an informed decision about the proceedings. He announced that the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) will take over the case starting Saturday, November 2.
Fagbemi expressed concern over the arraignment, acknowledging that the protesters had been charged with various offenses, including treason. “There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to take an informed decision,” he stated. He also recognized that while he could not change the court's decision regarding the remand of the defendants, he has directed the DPPF to seek an earlier hearing date than the scheduled January session.
The announcement comes in the wake of a distressing incident in court where one of the minors reportedly fainted. The news of the bail and the handling of the case has drawn widespread criticism from various sectors of society, including Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, who condemned the government’s actions.
Additionally, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria have called for the immediate release of all 76 minors involved in the protests, highlighting the ongoing concerns over the treatment of young individuals in the current political climate.
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