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Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has stepped in to oversee the case of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, who faced arraignment in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, signaling a heightened focus on the issues surrounding their protests.
Among the protesters, 75 youths aged 12 to 15 have been charged with ten counts, including terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and allegations of mutiny, reflecting the gravity of their involvement in the recent nationwide demonstrations.
The minors’ arraignment has ignited widespread outrage among civil society organizations and opposition leaders, who have strongly criticized the Federal Government for its decision to detain and prosecute children. They are imploring the government to investigate the matter quickly and rectify the situation.
The AGF, in a statement issued on Friday night, acknowledged that he is familiar with the case but pointed out that there are important aspects his office needs to investigate further to facilitate an informed decision on how to proceed.
He said that it is not within his power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. He, however, noted that he has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to his office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) on Saturday.
The statemet reads, “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.
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“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).”
Justice Obiora Egwuatu has granted bail to 67 of the 76 protesters who were arraigned, setting the bail amount at N10 million for each individual, a decision that highlights the court’s approach to handling this high-profile case.
For those granted bail—minors below the age of 15—the court has mandated that each must provide a single surety, specifically a civil servant, to ensure accountability throughout the duration of their legal proceedings.
