President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, has ordered the release of arrested Minors vowing to bring to book any public official found liable in the prosecution of the minors and other suspects involved in the August #Endbadgovernance protests.
According to reports, Tinubu has directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to ensure the immediate release of all minors being prosecuted over the #Endbadgovernance protests in different parts of the country.
Furthermore the president also asked the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to reunite the detained minors with their families.
Meanwhile, sometime last week the Images of the detained minors circulated online, causing public outrage and anger against the Tinubu government.
The children who were reportedly among the suspects arraigned at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court for allegedly participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
However, the suspects were being tried for treason, among other charges.
On the other hand, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) condemned the trial of minors on allegations of treason, and other offences, arising from their participation in the protests.
Senator Sani Musa, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has also commended Tinubu for ordering the release of the underage suspects.
Northern Senators Forum (NSF), led by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, also applauded president Tinubu for ordering the release of the young boys accused of treason.
A total of 114 suspects, including several minors, were arraigned last week, before Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Furthermore, Egwatu admitted the suspects to N10 million bail each over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, in company with the presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and adviser on public communications and orientation, Sunday Dare, briefed newsmen on the development.
Mr. Idris explained that in the last couple of days, “There have been some very deep inquiries and commentaries about the fate or the situation regarding the minors that you saw towards the end of last week, the ones that had been arrested by the Nigeria Police and that were undergoing some legal processes.”
He also said that as a result of the president’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law, he had directed the Minister of Justice to work on the immediate release from custody of all the minors being prosecuted over #EndBadGovernance protests.
“Mr President, because of his very deep commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and without prejudice also to whatever legal processes there are. On the other hand, on the human part of it, he has directed that some announcements be made.
“I recall that I had short briefing with Mr President early this evening, and he has directed the immediate release of all the minors that have been arrested by the Nigeria Police, without prejudice to whatever legal processes there are ongoing.
“Of course, if you look at this issue, there is the legal side of it, but there is also the human angle, the humanitarian side of it. Mr. President has directed that whatever the circumstances are, let the minors be released.
“They can, of course, continue whatever process there are, if indeed there are, as stipulated by our laws, but the minors, the president has directed that all of them be released,” Idris said.
According to the Minister, the president mandated the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to see to the welfare of the minors and reunite them with their respective families.
“The president has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure that there is smooth reunion with their parents or guardians, wherever they are in the country.
“The president has directed that a committee will be set up immediately to be headed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. It’s actually an administrative committee to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, the treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.”
Furthermore, the information minister mentioned that the president vowed to bring to book any public official found culpable in the arrest of the minors and other suspects of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“The president has also directed that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if there are any infractions found to have been committed by any official of government, be he a law enforcement agency, or whoever that person may be, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
