#EndBadGovernance protesters: Court halts treason trial of minors, others
Police
Abdullateef Fowewe
A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped further proceedings in the treason charges brought against about 114 #Endbadgovernance protesters, including some minors, by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu reportedly struck out the charges, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/503/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CR/527/2024 on Tuesday after the prosecution applied to withdraw them.
The prosecution was represented at Tuesday’s proceedings by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar.
Abubakar told the court that he was exercising the powers granted the Attorney General of the Federation by the Constitution, under Section 174 to take over the case from the police.
When allowed by the court to assume further prosecution of the case, the DPPF then applied to discontinue the case, an application defence lawyers did not oppose.
Ruling, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and struck out the charges.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the defendants were not in court, but the judge ordered their immediate release from custody.
Earlier, Dailyeconomy had reported that the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to transfer the case files of defendants, including minors, charged in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests following the public outrage after the minors appeared malnourished and collapsed in court during their arraignment on Friday, November 1.
Also reacting to the outrage on Monday, October 4, President Bola Tinubu ordered the AGF to facilitate the immediate release of minors detained by the Police in connection with the recent protests without prejudice to whatever legal processes are ongoing.
