The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the charges against the #EndBadGovernance protesters, including several minors, who had been facing trial for their involvement in the protests.
The case was struck out after the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, withdrew the charges on behalf of the Nigerian government. Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that he was exercising his powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police.
In a significant turn of events, the Attorney General applied to discontinue the trial of the accused protesters, many of whom are minors, and the court granted the request.
Although the accused were not present in the courtroom, Judge Obiora Egwuatu ordered their immediate release from custody. The protesters had been charged with treason, a move that sparked widespread outrage and public outcry across the country, particularly given that many of the accused were young individuals.
This development follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu on Monday, instructing the Attorney General to discontinue the case. The charges had provoked significant criticism, with many seeing the arrest and trial of the protesters as an overreach.
The proceedings were attended by Nentawe Yilwatda, the newly appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, who witnessed the court ruling firsthand.
The decision marks a crucial moment in the ongoing debate around governance, protest rights, and the treatment of minors within Nigeria’s justice system.
