#EndBadGovernance protest: AGF intervenes, seeks case file from Police

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file of the #Endbadgovernance protesters to his office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) on Saturday 2nd November, 2024.

The AGF, who gave the directive Friday evening in a press statement said, he was aware that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the Endbadgovernance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.

He however said, there are some issues the office of the AGF will need to look into regarding the matter to enable him take an informed decision.

The AGF further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).

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The statement reads in part, “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”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Amnesty International has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately and unconditionally order the release of all #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.

Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said in a statement late Friday that the protesters are unlawfully detained nationwide solely for exercising their right to peaceful protest.

According to AI, “Detaining protesters since August and charging them with bizarre offences, including ‘treasonable felony’ and ‘terrorism-related offences,’ shows the Nigerian government’s utter disregard for the right to freedom of assembly.

“The 114 protesters arraigned today at the Federal High Court, Abuja, have done nothing unlawful and do not deserve the horrifying treatment they have endured since their arrest.

“Among the 76 protesters arraigned in the first group today, the majority are minors, and the collapse of four in the courtroom underscores the poor state of their mental and physical health.

“Subjecting minors to such horrifying detention for demanding good governance reveals the government’s clear determination to crush dissent.

“In Katsina, 12 children under 16 years old are also facing an unfair trial. Many of these children ended up in detention simply for being on the streets during the protests.

“Children with their whole lives ahead of them are now at risk of being tried on trumped-up charges”.

The organization said, the action of the Federal Government is unacceptable adding that, in the aftermath of the protests in August, over 1,000 people were detained nationwide, and some lost their lives in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger State, and Maiduguri due to violent crackdowns on peaceful protests by security personnel.

“Detaining minors unlawfully and subjecting them to sham trials marks a new dimension in the Nigerian government’s persistent attacks on human rights.

“With millions of people on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition, and deepening poverty, President Bola Tinubu’s government should urgently address widespread hunger and the rapidly failing standard of living, instead of prioritizing the punishment of protesters”, the Amnesty International statement added.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE