A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the suit against persons charged over the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
The Trial Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on Tuesday, struck out the suit following an application by the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, M. D Abubakar, to take over and discontinue the suit.
The Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mohammed Abubakar had at the proceedings announced the exercise of his power of section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police.
After granting the request by Justice Egwuatu, the AGF proceeded to request the invocation of the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 119 accused persons.
Following no objections to the request from various lawyers representing the accused persons, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and struck out the charges.
Although the accused persons were not in court, the judge ordered their immediate release from prison.
President Bola Tinubu had on Monday ordered the AGF to terminate the charges against the accused persons, most of who are said to be minors and prohibited by law from facing such trial.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris who said this, noted that Tinubu ordered the immediate release of the minors without prejudice to whatever ongoing legal processes.
Tinubu also asked the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of the minors. He also mandated it to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
This is in addition to asking that a committee be set up and spearheaded by the humanitarian affairs ministry to probe all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of the minors.
The latest development came after the minors were arraigned last week before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
They were accused of treason among other charges. The minors were arrested in Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states. They were later granted bail of N10 million.
During the court session, some of the minors looking malnourished collapsed in court. That prompted outrage nationwide among civil society organisations, human rights advocates, and others.
Immediately after that, Fagbemi said his “office will need to look into the matter to enable me to take an informed decision.
He asked the police to transfer the case file to his office and hand over the same to the DPPF.
