Tinubu Bows To Public Outcry, Orders Release Of Minors Facing Treason Trial
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, November 4, 2024, ordered the immediate release of all minors charged for treason related offences.
The minors were arrested during the August 1-10 nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
President Tinubu’s directive was conveyed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at a media briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Idris said the President ordered the immediate release of all the minors who were arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing.
The Information minister also said that Tinubu equally directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of the minors, and ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
Idris further said; “The President has directed that an administrative committee be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“The President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her,” he said.
The announced freedom for the malnourished minors was came on the heels of public outcry by Nigerians and the international community that deplored the rationale behind the arrest, detention and prosecution of the minors before a Federal High Court in Abuja last week Friday.
The minors were among the over 100 protesters arrested by the police in the various states in the North and brought to Abuja where they have been detained for more than three months before their arraignment.
A viral video of the minors during their arraignment in court, sparked public outrage and outright condemnation as senior lawyers, Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights organisations, top politicians, groups, amongst others flayed the President Tinubu-led government’s handling of the matter.
Some of the prominent groups that called for the immediate release of the minors included; the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which demanded demanded the immediate release of the children and payment of adequate and appropriate compensation to them.
In a statement, the Northern leaders, described the arrest, detention and prosecution of the minors as a show of shame.
The ACF noted that the #EndBadGovernance protesters were but, victims of the country’s flawed criminal justice system.
Similarly, some human rights organisations and activists, tasked the federal government to address the underlying factors like hunger, inflation and economic hardship that predispose citizens to protesting against the policies of the Tinubu-led administration.
Checks by Forefront News indicated that the relevant agencies of government were making frantic efforts to facilitate the release and rehabilitation of the detainees by Monday evening.
This was as it was gathered that a combined team of agencies of the federal Government working with the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of Police to ensure full compliance with the directive of President Tinubu.
