By Charles Ofoji
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja, Nigeria has dismissed the treason charges filed against the minors involved in the #Endbadgovernance# protests by the Inspector General of Police.
The judge dismissed the charges on Tuesday after they were withdrawn by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of the federal government.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Monday, following international embarassment, ordered the withdrawal of the charges against the malnourished children.
Their arraignment after 93 days in adult prisons and further remand in prison custody by Justice Egwuatu had sparked outrage.
Fagbemi, SAN, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), M.D. Abubakar, had announced during the proceedings the exercise of his powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police.
Upon the court granting the request, the AGF then invoked the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 150 accused persons.
With no objections from the 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.
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