Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, has asked the police to transfer the case file of all protesters arraigned over the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
There was chaos at a federal high court in Abuja on Friday after some minors, who were among 76 protesters charged to court, collapsed while waiting to be arraigned.
The court granted them bail in the sum of N10 million each, while the prosecutor asked the judge to remove the names of those who collapsed from the charge.
In a statement on Friday, Fagbemi said he would look into the matter to enable him to make an informed decision.
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“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,” the statement reads.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to take an informed decision.
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
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“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).”
The arraignment of minors has generated condemnation from within and outside Nigeria.
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Amnesty International described the detainment of the minors as unlawful, noting that the action shows the government’s disregard for the law.
Other Nigerians, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi, the ex-governor of Anambra; and Shehu Sani, a former senator, have also criticised the minors’ arraignment.
Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, granted N10 million bail to the defendants, adding that they must provide two sureties in like sum.
Egwuatu specified that one of the sureties must be a civil servant of grade level 15 or higher, with a verifiable address within the court’s jurisdiction, while the other surety must be a parent of the defendant.
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