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BREAKING: Court Dismisses Terrorism, Treason Charges Against 119 #EndBadGovernance Protesters
It would be recalled last week Friday during court proceedings, some of the young defendants fainted while awaiting arraignment, prompting Justice Egwuatu to abruptly rise from the bench.
Abuja, Nigeria- A Federal High Court in Abuja has terminated terrorism and treason charges against 119 including young protesters aged between 12 and 15, #EndBadGovernance Protests across the country.
All 119 protesters were arraigned on Friday, November 1 on charges bordering on Treason felony, inciting to mutiny, among others.
The defendants were arraigned in two batches at the previous proceeding.
The first batch included 76 protesters, consisting of 32 minors, while the second batch had 43 protesters.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the trial judge, dismissed the suit after the Attorney General of the Federation’s counsel, M. D. Abubakar, filed an application to take over and discontinue the case.
The suspects, detained since their arrest on August 3, were charged with 10 counts, including terrorism, attempted overthrow of the government, and alleged mutiny due to their involvement in the protests.
It would be recalled last week Friday during court proceedings, some of the young defendants fainted while awaiting arraignment, prompting Justice Egwuatu to abruptly rise from the bench.
Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, has taken over the prosecution of #EndBadGovernance protesters who were arraigned in the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday.
The 75 protesters, aged between 12 and 15, face charges of terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny due to their involvement in the protest.
The arraignment has drawn backlash from civil society organisations and opposition leaders, who condemned the detention and prosecution of minors and urged the government to promptly address the situation.
In a statement on Friday night, Fagbemi acknowledged awareness of the case and expressed the need to review certain issues before making an informed decision.
He clarified that he lacks authority to alter the court’s decision to remand the minors until January but has instructed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to his office for further examination by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF).