The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the treason charges brought against the EndBadGovernance protesters by the Inspector General of Police.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu dismissed the charges yesterday after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, withdrew them on behalf of the federal government.
The director of public prosecution of the federation, Mohammed Abubakar, announced at the proceedings that he would exercise section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police.
Upon Justice Egwuatu’s granting of the request, the AGF requested the invocation of the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 119 accused persons, including minors.
Following no objections to the request from various lawyers representing the accused persons, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and struck out the charges.
Although the accused were not in open court, the judge ordered their immediate release from prison.
President Bola Tinubu had directed the AGF to terminate the charges against the accused persons on Monday, most of them minors prohibited by law from facing such a trial.
The DPPF also applied for the proceeding to be conducted without the minors’ presence in the courtroom by the provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Child’s Rights Act.
Human rights lawyer Mr Femi Fanala, SAN, and other defence lawyers said they were not opposed to the applications.
Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu struck out the charge.
Four minors, who were among 76 persons the Nigeria Police Force charged for participating in the protest, had slumped before they could be arraigned at the court last Friday.
The teenagers, between the ages of 14 and 17, who appeared ill and malnourished, collapsed after they were brought in for arraignment.
Owing to the development, police delisted the four affected teenagers from the charge sheet, and proceeded to dock the other defendants, who the court subsequently granted very stringent bail conditions.
However, following a public outcry that trailed the arraignment of the minors, the AGF ordered police to transfer the case file to his office for review.
Go And Be Responsible Citizens, Tinubu Charges Pardoned Suspects
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised the 119 suspects in the August 1 protests in Kano and Kaduna states to use the opportunity given to them by his presidential pardon to become responsible citizens of the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who passed the president’s message to the pardoned suspects, advised them to desist from acts that will lead to violence and destruction of public and private property.
He said the federal government is making efforts to find solutions to challenges confronting the nation.
The vice president, in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, gave them the advice on Tuesday during the formal handover of 112 suspects, 73 from Kano and 39 from Kaduna, to their respective governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Seven of the pardoned suspects had earlier been granted bail, and three were released to their parents, totalling 119.
At the brief ceremony, the Vice President, who spoke in English and Hausa, said despite overwhelming evidence against the suspects, including their involvement in the destruction of public and private property worth billions of naira, President Tinubu ordered their release on humanitarian grounds, giving them another chance to become responsible citizens.
He called on the governments of Kaduna and Kano states to ensure the rehabilitation of the suspects so they can be easily reintegrated into the social fabric of their communities and society.
The Vice President described President Tinubu as a compassionate leader who cares for all Nigerians and leaves no stone unturned to improve the nation’s economy.
In his presentation to the VP, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Nentawe Yilwatda said all pardoned suspects had been medically examined and certified fit to be released to their parents/guardians.
Kaduna State Governor Sen. Uba Sani urged the released suspects to reflect on their actions and embrace the opportunity given to them by President Tinubu to become better and more responsible citizens.
He told them to desist from further acts that will pit them against the laws of the land.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to partnering with relevant stakeholders to support the freed suspects in completing their education or engaging in ventures that will positively impact their lives.
For his part, the Governor of Kano State, Engr Abba Yusuf, said the release of the suspects had further demonstrated President Tinubu’s compassion for the masses.
He said the state government will ensure that the suspects are adequately rehabilitated and reintegrated into their communities.
The event’s high point was the Vice President’s symbolic handover of the suspects to their respective state governors.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Environment, Engr Balarabe Lawal; Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Sununu; and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Bichi.
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