MALTREATMENT OF DETAINEES: AGF office replaces police in trial of #EndBadGovernance protesters
Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has intervened in the developments surrounding Friday’s arraignment of teenage #EndBadGovernance protesters in the country.
The incidence has drawn significant attention, particularly regarding the legal proceedings against the protesters, which involves a large number of individuals who were arrested during demonstrations that took place from August 1 to August 10, 2024. These protests were aimed at addressing issues related to governance and public welfare in Nigeria.
On November 1, 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja saw the arraignment of 114 protesters who faced various charges, including serious allegations such as treason.
During this court session, it was reported that four individuals collapsed due to health issues linked to their detention conditions.
READ ALSO: Kano NBA decries maltreatment of teenage Nigerians in police custody, demands IGP’s resignation
The court granted bail to these protesters at N10 million each, requiring two sureties for each individual in a similar financial capacity. This decision came after defense lawyers presented their case and the prosecution made its submissions.
Videos of minors among the suspects have triggered outrage among Nigerians. Human rights activists, pressure groups, civil society groups, politicians, social commentators are among those who have criticised the Tinubu administration over the issue.
AGF’s Intervention
Following these events, AGF Lateef Fagbemi announced his office’s involvement in the case. He stated that he had directed the police to transfer the case file concerning these protesters to his office for further review.
This action indicates a shift from police handling of the case to a more centralized legal oversight by the AGF’s office. Fagbemi emphasized that while he cannot alter the court’s remand order or adjournment until January 2025, he is taking steps to expedite proceedings by considering an earlier trial date.
The AGF said in a press statemen that: “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason. There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.”
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January. It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).”
The AGF’s intervention could potentially lead to changes in how these cases are prosecuted and may influence public perception regarding government accountability and respect for civil liberties. By taking over the prosecution process, there is hope among advocates that there will be a more thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding these arrests and charges.
Human rights issues
Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have condemned the treatment of these protesters, particularly highlighting concerns about minors among those detained.
They argue that detaining individuals for exercising their right to peaceful protest reflects a broader issue of governmental disregard for human rights and freedom of assembly in Nigeria. Amnesty International specifically called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the immediate release of all detained protesters.
