‘Hungry’ Minors: AGF May Drop Treasonable Charges
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Following sustained public outrage, the Federal Government may have moved to drop the treasonable charges brought against the 32 minors arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Hours after their arraignment, a statement issued late Friday night by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), indicated interest in his office taking over the case.
Reports had emerged that the AGF requested the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to tidy up arrangements and submit the case file to his office for an urgent review.
Explaining that there were issues for review in relation to the case, the AGF’s statement said; “There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to make an informed decision”.
The AGF while hinting that; “It is not within my power to vary the court order remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January”, said; “I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to my office and hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation tomorrow, Saturday, November 2, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately initiate steps to request an earlier adjournment date”.
According to Federal Ministry of Justice insiders, given the embarrassment and public condemnation trailing the minors’ arraignment, IGP was already working round the clock to deliver on the AGF’s request.
The insiders said “with the way things are unfolding quickly, there are strong indications that the government is moving swiftly to drop the charges against the defendants
It was reliably gathered that the starting point is likely moves to ensure the Court takes a second look at its earlier adjourned date of 24th January 2025 and reconsider listing the case again this year, specifically this November.
One of the Justice Ministry’s insiders told Forefront News that “having already received the case file from the Police, all the parties involved are now working together to ensure the court reconvenes early in the week to review the situation and act accordingly.
“Importantly, with the AGF considering the case as a matter of urgent national importance, every necessary steps are being taken to ensure a quick resolution as a way of assuaging the anger and frayed nerves of Nigerians”.
On his part, counsel for all 119 defendants, Marshall Abubakar,
confirmed that steps were being taken to drop the charges against the clearly “malnourished minors”.
Though not specific with the details, Abubakar hinted on strong feelers that the AGF’s intervention will bring about the expected positive outcome and eventual release of the Children by the Police.
Reports quoted him as saying; “The government has been calling; the AGF has called. I think, most likely, by next week (this week) we will get the charges thrown out”.
Abubakar also confirmed that the minors, who were among the 119 remanded protesters are being kept in the SARS IRT’s custody, noting that the Police are keeping them in a large hall since the Borstal system for juvenile detention is non-existent in the Correctional Centre in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The children were taken to IRT SARS. There is a big hall there where they are kept because there is actually no Borstal Centre”, he explained.
Over the weekend, information also emerged that the AGF’s office was considering filing an affidavit of urgency and an application on Monday before the court to request an immediate review of the adjourned date
“If everything goes according to plan and his the application is granted, the case will likely come up on Tuesday and hopefully, the government will file for a discontinuation”.
