They need N10m each to bail themselves
They need to have top civil servants to bail them
They are charged as terrorists
They are charged for attempting to topple the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
They have been detained since August 2024 and their stay in prison has been extended to January 2025.
They are sick.
They have no access to medical care.
They are hungry.
They were picked up in different cities in Northern Nigeria and charged in Abuja without access to family, legal assistance or medical attention.
According to the Inspector-General of Police, Kunle Egbetokun, PhD, the suspects who fainted in court were acting to draw sympathy. Nothing was wrong with them.
They surely look great, well-fed, healthy and are the best face of Nigeria today.
No surprise in the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, saying that children above the age of seven can be charged to court.
Adejobi was responding to questions regarding the arraignment of minor #EndBadGovernance protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to him, those exempt from criminal liability under the law are children under the age of seven, emphasising that the arraigned individuals are 13 years old and above.
He said, “Those exempt from criminal liability under the law are those below seven. Once you are above seven, you can be charged to court.
The only consideration is the specific procedures required. None of them is younger than seven. The youngest is around 13.
“The fact that someone is 13 does not mean they cannot be charged to court. Even under the Children and Young Persons Act, individuals can still be charged. We have charged them on behalf of the Federal Government.
“These are individuals who leveraged the #EndBadGovernance protests, hijacked it, became violent, and displayed flags from Russia and other countries, which is, of course, an offence. They are criminally liable, and we have not charged anyone underage.”
Do these positions resolve the matter? Will these suspects, including children, be in custody until next year? Who will post bails of N10m each for them?
Nigeria is becoming more “different”. Nigeria is content with treating its citizens, minors, many of them destitute from their looks and hauling them into prison.
Is this still “our own dear native land”?
Let us stand in brotherhood with these oppressed Nigerians by freeing them from oppressors who make their point by turning the law to an ass to be ridden as they like.
