“Prosecute Those Responsible For Arrest, Detention, Prosecution Of Minors” – Group Urges Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

“For the avoidance of doubt, the causes of the social upheaval being witnessed in the country are directly attributable to the destabilising and debilitating effects of the policies of the President. These physically, tormented, terrorised boys, scavenging for food in the temple of justice, to any right-thinking mind, are not capable of high treason against Nigeria” – Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners

As the Federal Government embarks on subtle damage control over the scandalous detention of minors for months, and their subsequent arraignment in Court, the outrage has continued  to rise.

Most Nigerians were shocked when scores of minors were herded into a Federal High Court, Abuja and arraigned for, among other alleged charges, treason. They were arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protest which rocked the country between August 1-10. They were, allegedly among those who held and flaunted Russian flags and embarked on destruction of properties during the protest.

Kept in detention since their arrest, their appearance in Court was heart-wrenching. They looked unkempt, hungry and visibly malnourished. Six of them collapsed in Court during their arraignment.

Prominent Nigerians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the three,  Presidential Candidates in the 2023 General Elections, have expressed shock at the arraignment of the kids. And so did former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and former Senator Shehu Sani.

Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir,  in response, has instructed his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to do everything legally possible to bring back home any of the arraigned minors of Kano State origin.

And, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN,  perhaps,  embarrassed by the ugly situation and the damage it has done to Nigeria’s image, has decided to intervene by asking for the files of the case.

Now, a Northern Group,

Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners’ Forum has also weighed in. The Group has not only asked for the immediate release of the minors, but has asked President Bola Tinubu to order for the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in their arrest, detention, maltreatment and prosecution.

In a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, in Abuja, on Sunday, the Group  said it “shares in the ‘repulsion and disbelief of Nigerians after seeing images of the children who were physically terrorized and malnourished paraded before an Abuja court for charges of high treason against the Nigerian state.’

It described the action of the Police as not only  irresponsible but one which has  attracted national and international outrage “and will forever be a stain on the national consciousness of democratic country.”

The statement reads in part:

“We condemn in the strongest terms this inhuman treatment meted on fellow Nigerians, whose only crime was exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to protest.

“The revelation by the government that it had uncovered the identity of the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protest, made the prosecution of these boys, who probably attended the protests out of childish curiosity, laughable, though tragic.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable for the detention and mistreatment of these children.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that Nigeria, under President Tinubu, is fast becoming a Police State where the rights of the citizens are daily being trampled upon.

“Critical national institutions like the judiciary, police and other security services, designed for the protection of the rights of the citizens, have been turned into mere tools for the oppression of the masses.

“As observed recently by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria, BON, even the Press has not been spared, with journalists being regularly arrested for no just reason.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the causes of the social upheaval being witnessed in the country are directly attributable to the destabilizing and debilitating effects of the policies of the President.

“We, therefore,  join other Nigerians in calling on President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate release of these protesters and arrest and prosecute the real sponsors of the protest if there are any. These physical tormented terrorized boys, scavenging for food in the temple of justice, to any right-thinking mind, are not capable of high treason against Nigeria.

“The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1984, clearly states that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria has failed to uphold this convention, and the recent arraignment of youth and juveniles is a stark reminder of this failure.

“The Government must offer unreserved apology to the victims and offer them adequate compensation. We urge all Nigerians to stand firm and fight against any injustice and violation of human rights.”

The Police has however defended the arrest, detention and arraignment of the kids, insisting that in law, even a seven-year old can be arrested, detained and prosecuted for crime.

The trial Judge granted them bail to the tune of N10m each!!