• Tinubu tasks Kaduna, Kano govs to rehabilitate them
• Enroll them in school – Falana
• Lawyer demands IG’s removal
By John Chuks Azu, Baba Martins, Idowu Isamotu, Abbas Jimoh (Abuja) & Dotun Omisakin (Lagos)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the two controversial cases brought against the #EndBadGovernance protesters, including minors.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu struck out the charges on Tuesday after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), moved the motions to withdraw them.
Earlier, Fagbemi, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, had informed the court that based on the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation, under Section 174(1)(3), he is taking over and discontinuing the charges.
When the two separate cases, including that filed by the Inspector General of Police against 76 and 43 #EndBadGovernance protesters respectively were called, the DPP informed the court to waive the appearance in court of the defendants as the matter was not a regular proceeding under Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which was granted.
Lead defence lawyers, Femi Falana (SAN) and Hamza Nuhu Dantalli did not object to the applications.
While striking out the two cases, the judge ruled that the AGF has the powers under Section 174 of the Nigerian Constitution to take over and discontinue any proceedings in the country.
The minors were among the total of 119 defendants charged with treasonable felony before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the protests which lasted from August 1 to 10. They were granted N10 million bail bond each and remanded pending the fulfilment of the terms.
Speaking on the matter, Falana appealed to the court to order the federal government to properly relocate and rehabilitate the minors in line with the Child’s Rights Act and international conventions.
He further requested the federal government to discontinue all pending cases of the #EndBadGovernance protest nationwide.
“The criminalisation of protest must stop,” he said.
Similarly, defence lawyer, Dantalli called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to remove the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the handling of the minors in the country rather than make law to elongate his tenure.
He said the IGP’s non-departure after the expiration of tenure created a situation where there was no proper directive on the state to try the protesters rather than ferry them to Abuja despite the alleged “state offence.”
Meanwhile, the Director General of Media and Publicity and spokesman to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Sanusi Bature, has assured of the government’s determination to rehabilitate the minors after the federal government’s discontinuance of their cases.
He said the government plans to enrol them in school.
Tinubu tasks Kaduna, Kano govs to rehabilitate released minors
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has advised the 119 suspects in the August 1 protests in Kano and Kaduna states released to their governors to use the opportunity given to them by the presidential pardon to become responsible citizens.
He also advised them to desist from acts that will lead to violence and destruction of public and private properties.
The president said the federal government is finding solutions to challenges confronting the nation.
President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave the charge on Tuesday during the formal handover of 112 suspects, 73 from Kano and 39 from Kaduna states, to their respective governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Seven of the pardoned suspects had earlier been granted bail, and three were released to their parents, making a total of 119.
At the brief ceremony, the vice president, said despite overwhelming evidence against the suspects, including their involvement in the destruction of public and private property worth billions of naira, President Tinubu ordered their release on humanitarian grounds, giving them another chance to become responsible citizens.
Shettima said over “N300 billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private property and loss of business.”
He called on the governments of Kaduna and Kano states to anchor the rehabilitation of the suspects so they can be reintegrated into the social fabric of their respective communities and society at large.
The vice president described President Tinubu as a compassionate leader who cares for all Nigerians and is leaving no stone unturned in the bid to improve the nation’s economy.
Earlier in his presentation to the VP, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said all pardoned suspects had been medically examined and certified fit to be released to their parents/guardians.
Earlier in his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, urged the released suspects to reflect on their actions and embrace the opportunity given to them by President Tinubu to become better and responsible citizens, maintaining that they must desist from further acts that will pit them against the laws of the land.
For his part, the Governor of Kano State, Engr Abba Yusuf, said the release of the suspects has further demonstrated President Tinubu’s compassion for the masses. He said the state government will ensure that the suspects are adequately rehabilitated and reintegrated into their respective communities.
Similarly, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau, urged the pardoned suspects to embrace the opportunity to become better citizens, just as he thanked the president for forgiving them and ensuring their release to their families.
The event’s high point was the vice president’s symbolic handover of the suspects to their respective state governors.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Environment, Engr Balarabe Lawal; Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Sununu; and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Bichi.
Tinubu had on Monday directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to immediately effect the release of the minors.
Daily Trust had reported how the young protesters were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday by the Nigeria Police. They were charged with treason.
Also, a video showed about 29 children, some of them struggling with breathing over suspected malnourishment, lying on the floor of the court while others were in the dock.
The development attracted reactions among politicians, human rights groups and civil society organisations.
Falana wants released minors enrolled in school
In the meantime, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Tuesday advised President Tinubu to ensure that all the released minors are reintegrated back into the society by sending them to school.
This is just as the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) said it is willing to offer scholarships to the 32 released minors throughout their secondary school.
The association’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kundak, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Lagos, emphasising the need for education to enlighten the minds of young ones about national cohesion and prepare them for a better future for the country.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, also vowed that he would sue the federal government if the minors were not sent to school, arguing that the withdrawal of the case was not enough.
The senior lawyer spoke at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, while reviewing a book titled “Judiciary Terrorism” written by Richard Akinnola.
Falana disclosed that the Tinubu-led government would have brought another set of 29 minors to Abuja from Maiduguri for arraignment but for last Friday’s international embarrassment.
Daily Trust reports that Tinubu on Monday ordered immediate release of the minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance# protests nationwide after national outrage.
On his part, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, said the worst period in the country’s history was over, while urging the citizens to remain united.
He noted that many issues arise in the country because many citizens do not understand what it means to be without a nation.
The cleric encouraged citizens to look at places like Gaza and Lebanon and to stop turning against one another.
Similarly, a former Director-General of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, lamented that after 32 years of civil rule, the country’s judicial system still has military parasites in its blood and system.
Odinkalu, who was represented by Owei Lakemfa, bemoaned how the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, was humiliated before he was acquitted and discharged on Monday.
Apparently responding to Odinkalu’s comments, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor (retd) said the military should not be painted in the negative image because few personnel misused their powers.
According to him, in the military, no one is taught how to plot a coup or abuse power.
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