- President Tinubu ordered a swift review of cases involving minors arrested in protests
- Plans for psychological support and educational opportunities for the affected minors are underway according to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women's Affairs
- Legal expert Femi Falana called for the dismissal of charges against the minors and demanded educational support from the government
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, to look again into the cases of minors who were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests held in Kano and Kaduna States.
This was disclosed by Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women Affairs, in a statement made late Saturday, November 2, 2024, following her tour of the facility where the children were kept.
Ministry discloses counselling, support opportunities for minors after release
“Plans are in place to work closely with child protection services to provide post-release psychological counselling, social support, and rehabilitation to facilitate these children’s reintegration into their communities. In partnership with stakeholders, the Ministry is also exploring educational opportunities for the children to support their growth and well-being beyond this challenging experience.
“To further address the public’s concerns, the President has directed the Attorney General of the Federation to review the cases of these minors swiftly. The Ministry is confident that justice will prevail, in alignment with Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and the principles of child protection,” the statement read in part.
According to reports, Attorney General and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has received the trial case files from the police and has started examining them without delay to determine the next steps.
Police defend minors' arraignment during protests
Responding to backlash over the arraignment of minors, the Police Force affirmed that the law permits the arraignment of anyone from the age of seven.
Recall that the defendants were arraigned by the police on Friday, November 1in a Federal High Court in Abuja, facing two distinct charges: FHC/ABJ/CR/503/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CR/527/2024.
The defendants were reportedly arrested in Kano and Kaduna states during the recent #EndBadGovernance protest. Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the trial to begin on January 24, 2025.
Falana identifies 29 minors, requests educational funds from FG
Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has urged the court to dismiss its jurisdiction concerning the cases.
Falana identified the minors as Usman Amiru (14), Sunusi Nura (14 years), Musa Isyaku (15), Umar Ali (17 years), Muhammad Musa (14), Abdulganiyu Musa (15), Suleiman Ali (16 years), Suleiman David (17), Muktar Ishaq Alhassan (16), Tasi’u (17 years), Ibrahim Rabi’u (16), Jamilu Haruna (16), Muktar Yahya (17), Abdullahi Suleiman (17), Sani Aliyu (17), Amir Muhd (17), Abdul’aziz Adam (15), Salisu Adam (16), Sani Hassan Idris (17), Mahmud Mustapha (16), Umar Abdullahi (17), Habibu Knows (17), Mustapha Abubakar (17), Abdulrahman Ibrahim (17), Bilal (15), Sadiq Sunusi (15), Ibrahim Sani (17), Hassan Muhd (17) and Saifullahi, Muhd (15).
Falana, in an application he filed on Friday, requested the court to direct the Federal Government to provide funding for the education of the 29 minors involved in the case.
Falana specifically requested that the court issue “an order declining jurisdiction to hear the current charges against the defendants/applicants as presently constituted.”
Additionally, Falana requested “an order mandating the complainant/respondent to enrol in school and bankroll in full the education of the defendants, who are minors and to pay their school fees till at least senior secondary school or university level in compliance with Section 18 (3) (a),(b), (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Section 15 of the Child’s Rights Act, Section 2 of the Universal Basic Education Act, 2004, Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”
Falana further said, “It is wrong to arrest and charge minors alongside adults and remand them in prison custody alongside other inmates including convicts.
“Rather than educate and teach the minors good morals, the complainant is sending its minors to prisons all in a bid to stifle civic space and abrogate the right to dissent in breach of the 1999 Constitution and violation of the right of the children to education and proper moral upbringing as encapsulated under Section 18 (3) (a),(b), (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Section 15 of the Child’s Rights Act, Section 2 of the Universal Basic Education Act, 2004, Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
“These minors amongst the defendants herein are entitled to have their right to education preserved by this honourable court of justice.”
#Endbadgovernance protests: Hunger protest is enough to impeach Tinubu, governors - Saliu Lukman
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the former vice-chairman of the ruling party in the northwest, Salihu Lukman attributed the economic inflation and hardship to Tinubu’s policies.
Salihu Lukman said the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest was enough to impeach the President.