By Femi Oyelola
Nigerians recently did not hold back their feelings as they expressed outrage over the arraignment of suspects, including 32 minors, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
The suspects were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police on 10 count charges including treason, intent to destabilize Nigeria, and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.
The charge sheet showed at least 29 children, aged between 14 and 17, were among those brought to a court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Civil society groups and rights activists slammed the police and the government over the matter. The defendants, who have been in detention for three months, were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory as well as Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.
Reacting to this development, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Head of Transparency International-Nigeria amd Chairman of Amnesty International Nigeria, said it is disturbing and damaging to Nigeria’s global image to witness such treatment of young citizens who were only exercising their constitutional rights.
Also, Executive Director of Hope for Children Initiative, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, said all the protesters must be immediately and unconditionally released, saying it was a violation of the right to dignity of the victims to be physically terrorized and malnourished by a government that ought to have protected them.
Similarly, The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) joined its voice and called on the Federal Government to halt the treason trial of #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, in a statement, described the trial of minors as a show of shame.
“Equally unsettling was the dramatic departure from the court of the presiding judge on sighting some of the under-aged detainees collapsing from hunger and suffering,” he said.
Muhammad-Baba said the ACF viewed these citizens as victims of the Nigerian criminal justice administration system and mindless bureaucracy.
He said the ACF demanded that the Federal Government investigated the circumstances that led to the detention of the suspects for over three months, way beyond the constitutional limits of 24 hours, and extend financial compensation to the detainees for their unnecessary and unjustified detention for over three months.
He said the government should also arrange medical examinations and treatment, provide professional psychological evaluation and counseling to the detainees, and re-evaluate its strategies for processing protests strictly in line with constitutional due processes, principles of good governance, and international best practices.
While expressing ACF’s disappointment in the apparent resort to abandoning court by the trial judge as well as the unreasonable bail conditions he granted the detainees, he said: “It was not just the impossible monetary condition but to ask the detainees to provide sureties who must be senior government officials is beyond belief, these being citizens from the lower rungs of society who may never have been to Abuja!
“The ACF joins other Nigerians, national and international human rights groups to strongly condemn the ‘charade of a trial and naked, strong-arm tactic, reminiscent of strategies employed by authoritarian and intolerant but weak regimes aimed at muscling citizens”, he said.
However, in a stunning reversal of fortunes, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of all the 119 protesters who had been detained for over two months, and they were received at the presidential villa in Abuja a day after ordering their release from detention and the discontinuation of their trial.
They were driven from prison, where they had been detained since their arrests in August, to reception by top government officials at the villa.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of Mr Tinubu, later handed them over to their state governors – 39 to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna and 73 to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President said it called for sober reflection and “for us to look inwards and find solutions to our challenges.”
He said the president instructed the release of the protesters on humanitarian grounds.
”Despite compelling and incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetrators in action. Some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves.
“Regarding this evidence, the president, as the father of the nation, decided to give these young men another chance at becoming responsible citizens who will make a positive impact in a drive for a better Nigeria.”
The vice president admonished the minors not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property.
According to him, over N300 billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private property and loss of business.
He said: “I will urge you, I will advise you, (as) you are our children, to use the opportunity of the president’s magnanimous gesture in ensuring that you overcome and become responsible citizens who will contribute to the growth of the society.”
Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, who was handed 39 of the protesters who are from his State, promised to rehabilitate and empower them if they turned a new leaf and become responsible and law-abiding members of the society.
Speaking to journalists after the protesters were released, the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Dr Abdulkadir Muazu Meyere said that the Governor has asked him to receive the credentials of those who have completed their tertiary education.
‘’The Governor promised that some of them will be given start-up capitals to commence trading, others will be taught skills and some will be given employment,’’ he added.
The Secretary to the State Government, however, said that the government will be tracking the activities and conduct of all 39 of them to ensure that they are of good behavior ‘’before these benefits are extended to them.’’
Dr Meyere disclosed that the Kaduna State Government has taken the details of the released detainees, which include contact addresses, telephone numbers, and names of their Next of Kin, for easy tracking and monitoring.
According to him, the detainees were all medically examined and given psycho-social counseling on the need to change for the better to be useful to themselves and society at large.
‘’Both Islamic and Christian religious leaders preached to them to embrace the teachings of their faiths and to avoid bad company, to benefit from God’s blessings here and in the hereafter,’’ the SSG added.
According to him, the detainees were given a telephone each because they lost their own during detention, and ‘’the Governor has graciously given each of them N100,000 as a measure of goodwill.’’
Dr Meyere said that the detainees have been transported back to their various homes.
In his remarks, Mr. Sani promised to enroll the children in school and training on various skills acquisitions.
He said, “We thank the president for granting pardon to our children. Of course, we know they are children of everyone.
“Looking at their age and what they went through. I do not doubt in my mind that a lot of people must be happy for the fact that today they are free.”
Also speaking on the development, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the ministry had profiled and examined all of the children medically and confirmed them fit to be reunited with their parents
Reacting to the gesture by the government, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), who earlier expressed dismay over the detention and trial of the suspects, commended President Bola Tinubu for instructing the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to release all the minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria.
Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, gave the commendation while speaking to the media.
Rafsanjani said CISLAC welcomed the president’s decision, praising his willingness to investigate the circumstances leading to the arrests and to hold the security personnel responsible accountable.
“Additionally, CISLAC has urged President Tinubu to extend this directive to other detained protesters, fostering greater national unity, justice, and demonstrating government openness to addressing citizens’ grievances,” he said.
Rafsanjani also called for two major reforms to the country’s Criminal Justice System, the first of which was the need for comprehensive judicial reform, particularly targeting corruption within the judiciary.
“To restore hope and stability in our country, we must ensure that only judges with integrity serve on our benches.
“A reformed judiciary will not only strengthen the rule of law and democracy but also increase confidence among international investors who seek a transparent and fair justice system,” he said.
According to him, the involvement of corrupt public officials and election riggers with some judges to undermine justice poses a significant threat to the country.
Rafsanjani also stressed the need for improved police welfare, training, due promotions, and retirement benefits.
He praised the president’s directive that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs should oversee the rehabilitation and safe return of the minors to their families.
This move, according to him, reflects the president’s commitment to addressing humanitarian issues with compassion.
The executive director called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to actively engage Nigerians by providing civic education and promoting active citizenship.
“An informed and engaged citizenry is crucial for national progress,” he stated.
Rafsanjani expressed optimism over Tinubu’s earlier pledge to establish a dialogue with Nigerian youths to address their concerns about poverty, corruption, insecurity, and limited opportunities, urging him to put concrete structures in place for the dialogue.
“The president must surround himself with reliable and impartial advisors to ensure that this initiative genuinely addresses the root causes of youth discontent and prevents any sycophants from derailing the purpose,” he said.
The executive director reaffirmed CISLAC’s support for any government’s effort aimed at genuine reform and improved governance.
He urged the president to continue to listen to Nigerians and address their demands for justice and accountability.
The mother of one of the suspects, Based in Kaduna Mariya Yakubu Said the family had searched for their son for more than three months and could not find him at police formations in the state until when they saw him in the dock.
She said her son, who was sick on the day of the protest, was detained by security personnel near Ranchers Bees Township Kaduna.
She expressed her gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for showing he is a father to all by ordering the release of the suspects, including her son. She also thanked the State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for receiving them and promised that the family would make good use of the opportunity provided by the government to ensure her son grows up as a responsible citizen.
The Senior Pastor of House of Purpose Ministry U/Sunday in Chikun local Government Area of Kaduna State admonished parents to train their children in the way of the Lord as directed by the Scriptures.
He also called on the released minors and other children to always harken to the directives of their parents and avoid peer group influences.
Mallam Abubakar Ladan of Kinshasa Road in Kaduna North Local Government Area cautioned parents that they are duty bound to see that their wards live as directed by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH), saying any parents knowing or acting carelessly allow their children to go wayward will be held accountable.
