The Federal Government has formally withdrawn treason charges initially filed against minors who participated in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, signaling a shift in response to public concerns over the handling of young protesters.
On Tuesday, November 5, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, assumed oversight of the case and announced the government’s decision to discontinue the legal proceedings against the minors at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to release the minors and review the circumstances surrounding their detention.
Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), filed the official request to drop the charges, citing sections 174(1)(b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Abubakar also requested that court proceedings exclude the presence of minors, referencing Section 266(b) of the ACJA 2015 and Section 1 of the Child’s Rights Act to uphold protections for young defendants.
In response, Justice Obiora Egwuatu struck out the charges after receiving no objections from defense counsel, including prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN. Falana has been vocal in his opposition to the charges, previously calling for the government to extend leniency to all protesters involved.
The case has drawn significant attention following reports that on Friday, November 1, four minors among the 76 protesters initially charged by the Nigeria Police Force collapsed before their arraignment, appearing visibly malnourished and unwell.
These minors were subsequently removed from the charge sheet, though proceedings continued for the other defendants, who were granted bail under strict conditions.
Public backlash intensified after images and reports of the minors’ condition emerged, leading to calls for government accountability.
In response, President Tinubu directed an immediate review and ordered that the charges against the minors be dropped, along with an investigation into their arrest and detention.
