#EndBadGovernance Protesters’ Lawyer, Falana, Tells Tinubu Govt To Enrol Freed Minors In School, Also Withdraw Charges Against Lenin, 10 Others
FAST DOWNLOAD
Falana also pressed the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to enroll the freed minors in school, as stipulated by law.
Mr Femi Falana (SAN), lead counsel for 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters, made a significant plea in a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
He urged Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, to drop charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others, who are scheduled to appear in court on November 8, 2024.
Falana also pressed the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to enroll the freed minors in school, as stipulated by law.
This development comes on the heels of the Federal High Court in Abuja’s decision to strike out treason charges against the 119 Nigerians, including those detained since August for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Falana led the charge in court on Tuesday, emphasizing the Nigerian government’s responsibility to rehabilitate and enroll all affected children in school upon their return to their respective states.
This move is crucial, considering the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with over 7.6 million girls not attending school at the basic education level.
As the lead counsel, Falana did not contest the application to withdraw charges.
However, the human rights lawyer told the government representatives from the AGF’s office that they must also as a matter of urgency withdraw the cases of 11 others including Lenin facing treason charges.
Falana noted that the government must also rehabilitate and enrol all the kids in school upon return to their various states.
The lawyer also called on the governments of Kano, Katsina, Borno and Kaduna to immediately discontinue the #EndBadGovernance trial in all their states immediately.
The ruling to withdraw the charges was pronounced by Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, who struck out the case following an application by M.D Abubakar, counsel for the AGF.
Abubakar had applied that the AGF should take over the suit, which was subsequently discontinued.
SaharaReporters had reported that following their rejection at Kuje Prison, the malnourished minors were detained by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in a facility meant for adults at the Intelligence Response Team unit in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory
The kids who were earlier granted bail on stringent terms by Justice Obiora Egwuatu were 24. Still, about 20 of them had been hospitalised at an undisclosed hospital, sources told SaharaReporters last Friday night.
On Monday, President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the underage children arraigned before an Abuja Federal High Court on Friday, November 1, following national and international outrage and condemnation.
The widespread criticism came after some minors collapsed in court last Friday during their arraignment, sparking a national outrage.
This dramatic turn of events led to President Tinubu ordering the release of the minors, who were among 119 protesters arrested for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests. The protesters, aged 12-34, faced charges including terrorism, treason, and conspiracy, with many criticizing the government’s response to the youth-led demonstrations.
The incident highlighted concerns about the treatment and welfare of the minors in custody.
In response, the Nigerian Police Force described the fainting incident as “deliberate and scripted”.
However, this explanation compounded the public outcry.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the development to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
SaharaReporters on Monday night also exclusively reported that Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was set to preside over an elaborate handover ceremony to transfer custody of malnourished minors to their respective state governors from the northern region.
