AGF Weighs Dropping Treason Charges Against Starving Minors As Public Outcry Grows

"AGF Weighs Dropping Treason Charges Against Starving Minors as Public Outcry Grows"

By Achimi Muktari

In a dramatic turn of events, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is considering dropping treason charges against 32 minors arrested during a protest, following an uproar over their detention under questionable conditions. The minors, who were arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, have sparked widespread criticism, with many pointing out that they have been languishing in custody under harsh conditions.

Just hours after the arraignment, the AGF intervened, announcing his intention to review the charges and take over the case from the Inspector General of Police (IGP). In a late-night statement on Friday, Fagbemi expressed concerns about the minors’ case and the circumstances surrounding their detention.

“There are issues my office needs to review to make an informed decision,” Fagbemi said, hinting that the charges could be dropped soon. While acknowledging that he had no authority to alter the court’s remand order, the AGF instructed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to his office, with a directive for the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) to expedite the process. The AGF also hinted at seeking an earlier adjournment than the originally scheduled January 24, 2025 court date.

Public Pressure Mounts

The minors are among 119 defendants initially charged, and their plight has gained attention from both human rights activists and the public. Marshall Abubakar, the defence counsel for all the defendants, confirmed that swift steps were being taken to drop the charges against the children, a move that could happen as soon as this week.

"The AGF has requested the case file, and we are hopeful that the charges will be thrown out soon," Abubakar said in a phone interview.

Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju also raised alarms about the well-being of the minors, citing concerns over two missing children who were not brought to court despite being included in a previous remand warrant. Adeyanju expressed fears about their safety, calling for immediate intervention from the AGF to discontinue the case and ensure the release of all minors.

“It took tremendous effort to even get the children to court on Friday, but two of them are still missing. We have no idea where they are or what has happened to them,” Adeyanju told Sunday PUNCH. “Their names were on the court’s remand warrant, but they were not presented. This raises serious concerns about their whereabouts.”

Adeyanju also highlighted the plight of other detained protesters who were too sick to appear in court. “Seven others were removed from the charge sheet due to illness and couldn’t stand trial. Despite their names being withdrawn, the police still refused to release them and took them back into custody,” he explained.

Controversy Surrounding Police Actions

In the midst of this controversy, the police have come under fire for their handling of the minors. Reports surfaced of children fainting during their court appearance, allegedly due to starvation and the poor conditions they had endured while in custody. This has fueled public outrage, with many calling for accountability and the immediate release of the minors.

The Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria (NCMN) and the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests in Lagos condemned the statements made by the Inspector General of Police, who claimed that the children fainted as part of a staged act.

In a sharp rebuke, Ahmad Ashir, National Secretary of the NCMN, called the allegations “deeply insensitive and baseless,” pointing to video evidence that showed the minors collapsing in court. “To suggest that these children deliberately fainted ignores the traumatic conditions they have been subjected to. Their health and well-being must be a priority.”

Hassan Soweto, a representative from the #EndBadGovernance protest organisers, echoed similar sentiments, decrying the police’s treatment of the minors. “For children to endure months of starvation and torture, only for the police to accuse them of fainting on purpose, is an outright insult,” he said. Soweto called for their immediate release and demanded accountability for the suffering the minors had endured.

A Glimmer of Hope

As public pressure mounts, the AGF’s intervention provides a glimmer of hope for the minors and their families. Sources close to the Ministry of Justice revealed that the AGF is considering filing an urgent application to expedite the hearing and ensure that the case is revisited sooner rather than later. A source within the ministry mentioned that an affidavit of urgency could be submitted as early as Monday, which, if granted, would allow the case to come up for hearing on Tuesday.

“This move is crucial to fast-track the discontinuation of the charges,” the source explained. “The AGF is determined to resolve this matter swiftly, especially given the public outcry and the humanitarian concerns surrounding the children’s treatment.”

While the AGF’s involvement offers hope for a swift resolution, many are still waiting anxiously for concrete actions. Families of the minors, human rights groups, and civil society organizations continue to push for the immediate release of all the children and other detained protesters. Calls for comprehensive investigations into the conditions of their detention are also growing louder.

The Bigger Picture

This case has drawn significant attention not only to the plight of the minors but also to the broader concerns about how protesters and young detainees are treated in Nigeria. The legal proceedings against the children have become a symbol of the growing tension between government authorities and activists, particularly those involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

The #EndBadGovernance movement, which started as a protest against poor governance and police brutality, has evolved into a nationwide call for systemic reform. The treatment of the minors has now become a rallying point for many who believe that the government is mishandling dissent and failing to protect the rights of its most vulnerable citizens.

As the public awaits further developments, the Attorney General’s next steps will be closely watched. Whether or not the charges against the minors are dropped in the coming days could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. But for now, the priority remains clear: securing the freedom and well-being of the children who have become the unwitting faces of a larger struggle for justic"AGF Weighs Dropping Treason Charges Against Starving Minors as Public Outcry Grows"