In an unexpected development, Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has directed that the case of detained End Bad Governance protesters be transferred to his office. This comes after growing attention to the charges filed against individuals detained in connection with the August protests, many of whom are minors.
Mr. Fagbemi announced this decision in a statement on Friday from Abuja, noting that the arrested individuals had been arraigned by police on serious charges, including treason. He confirmed that the court had ordered these protesters to be held in detention centers, with their next hearing scheduled for January. However, Mr. Fagbemi clarified that while he could not alter the court’s order, he felt that certain issues warranted a closer examination by his office.
“I have instructed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to my office for review and hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) by Saturday, November 2, 2024,” he stated. Additionally, Mr. Fagbemi said he has directed the DPPF to explore options for an earlier court date.
This directive follows a recent court decision by Justice Obiora Etu, who granted bail to 67 minors from the group of 76 defendants, each bail set at N10 million. The minors, some as young as 14, are required to have one civil servant as a surety to secure their release.
The End Bad Governance protests, which erupted on August 10, were a response to the severe economic difficulties many Nigerians face. The protests spread across major cities like Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, ultimately leading to the detention of 76 individuals who participated in the demonstrations. Those detained face a range of charges, including conspiracy and treason—a serious accusation under Nigeria’s Penal Code, which criminalizes any actions that threaten the state.
Of particular concern is the condition of many detainees, especially the minors. Observers in the courtroom reported that several of the young detainees appeared weak and malnourished, with four needing urgent medical attention during the proceedings.
Most of the protesters now being arraigned are from Kaduna State, with ages ranging from 14 to 34 years. The full list of names highlights the predominantly young demographic involved in the protests, many of whom are in their teens or early twenties.
