By Laraba MUREY
As the federal government mulls its next action over 32 famished minors remanded for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest, Nigerians and various groups have continued to voice their anger over the detention of the children.
On Friday, the federal government arraigned the 76 protestors of which 32 visibly malnourished minors after spending months in detention at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Northern coalition kicks
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, in statement on Saturday by its national coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said the “detention and arraignment of those frail, malnourished and hapless children have exposed the government as a desperate entity that is determined to de-market and embarrass Nigeria before the international community while presenting its credentials for medals in gross inhumanity.”
The statement said: “The continued detention and mistreatment of these minors is a gross violation of their basic rights, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly. CNG strongly condemns this abuse of power and the blatant disregard for the welfare and dignity of young citizens.
“The treatment these children are receiving highlights a troubling failure of state actors to prioritize the welfare and rights of its most vulnerable citizens, children, especially when their “crime” was to demand better governance and accountability.
“It is disheartening that in a country with a history of resilience and promise, minors are being made to endure starvation and harsh conditions while awaiting trial for daring to speak up for their future. “This is not only a violation of domestic law but also contravenes international human rights principles protecting children from harm and unlawful detention.
“It is shamefully despicable that criminals and bandits that are holding the entire country to ransom do not face such stringent consequences for their actions.”
CHRICED urges probe of judge
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, weighing in on the matter called for the National Judicial Council, NJC, to intervene in in the interest of saving the judiciary from reputational damage.
In a statement on Sunday by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, CHRICED emphasized the vulnerable state of the minors, who appeared malnourished in court after enduring harsh conditions in detention.
CHRICED argued that the government’s actions reflect a failure to support vulnerable groups such as the Almajiri children, contributing to the nation’s 10 million out-of-school youths.
The organization further asserted that the Federal Government lacks moral authority to criminalize these children’s protest actions and that their continued detention violates multiple frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act.
CHRICED called on the National Judicial Commission to investigate, cautioning that the judiciary’s reputation is at risk if it appears complicit in repressing dissent.
SERAP urges immediate release of minors from detention
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, to ensure the release of all #EndBadGovernance protesters, “including the 32 hungry and malnourished children.”
SERAP lamented that the “children” and some other protesters were “detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
This request is contained in a letter dated November 2, 2024, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP noted that the detention of the protesters may discourage other citizens from exercising their rights, adding that if the president does not act on its recommendations within 48 hours, legal actions will be taken against him.
The letter, which was copied to the Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Dr Matthew Gillett, urged Tinubu “to direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate law enforcement agencies to promptly investigate the circumstances surrounding the grave violations of the human rights of the children and other protesters in detention, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, and to ensure justice and remedies for the victims.
“Direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate agencies to ensure immediate access to medical treatment for all the protesters, including the 32 hungry and malnourished children, whose health is apparently deteriorating.”
AG moves to ‘save’ 32 minors
Indications emerged weekend that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has commenced moves to drop the charges brought against the 32 minors.
The AGF disclosed in a statement late Friday night his interest in taking over the matter from the Inspector General of Police.
He noted that there were issues his office would like to review.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to make an informed decision,” the AGF said.
“It is not within my power to vary the court order remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to my office and hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation tomorrow, Saturday, November 2, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately initiate steps to request an earlier adjournment date,” he added.
