Published 5th Nov, 2024

By Sodeeq Atanda

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has quashed the lawsuit against the minor protesters charged with treason by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

M.D Abubakar, a legal representative of Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), applied to strike out the suit on Tuesday.

FIJ had reported on Saturday that Fagbemi had taken over the case.

Addressing the court on the withdrawal application, Abubakar said, “We have an application to take over the matter and to discontinue same in accordance with section 174 of the constitution.”

The judge subsequently granted the application in two batches, setting over at least 119 defendants, including minors, out of the 176 persons who are facing treason, terrorism and arson charges.

FIJ had earlier reported that the prosecution of these children before the court contradicted the Child Rights Rights. When the NPF made the kids appear before the court on Friday, some of them slumped while others looked malnourished. The visibly disturbed state of the minors drew the ire of the public on the legality of their arraignment.

Despite their frail look and age, the judge entertained the case and granted the minors bail on stringent terms, further attracting a barrage of public backlash against the federal government.

In an effort to downplay the suffering of the minors, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said that the children intentionally collapsed in court to gain public sympathy and rubbish the prosecutor’s image.

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