From Desmond Mgboh (Kano) and Noah Ebije (Kaduna)
The Leader of New Nigeria People Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed deep shock over the arraignment of minors by the police before an Abuja High Court over alleged participation in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August 2024.
Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 General Elections, lamented: ”These children, who are obviously malnourished and need medical attention have been subjected to a cruel experience when they should be in school.
“The arraignment of such number of minors in their states is highly unusual and negates every tenet of the protection of human rights and dignity.
”It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable among us, particularly children, women, old and the needy. And the government should not be at the forefront of this violation.”
He also decried the stringent conditions set for their bail, saying it was absurd that a minor was ordered to source for N10 million and a Grade Level 15 civil servant to bail him
”The Child Rights Act 2003, Section 11, protects the dignity of every child and protects them from any physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment.
He charged the government to immediately review their charges so that they could go back to their families and be responsible citizens.
”I will like to call on the Federal Government to face the challenges of banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram, lack of stable electricity and excruciating economic policies rather than putting children behind bars.”
In a related development, notable Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has blamed the arrest of minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest on those it said did so to sabotage the President Bola Tinubu administration.
It, therefore, urged Tinubu to bring the saboteurs to book. The group charged Tinubu to also sit up and noted that such saboteurs were all out to frustrate his 2027 second-term bid. The warned: “Tinubu should be aware of fifth columnists in his administration.”
The group also called on government appointees, especially the ministers to wake up to their responsibilities and defend the government because they are part and parcel of President Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement, the Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said: “Those who have axe to grind with President Bola Tinubu should not use the arraignment of these minors as an opportunity to lampoon the government. The President should stand up firm now and deal with those who have encouraged this embarrassment.”
This came on the heels of the reactions that have continued to pour in over the federal government’s decision to arraign minors who participated in the last #EndBadGovernance protest in court.
The ATT Convener stated further: “We want to believe that President Tinubu is not aware of the arrest of this category of children, so we are calling on the Federal Government to withdraw the charges against them and return them to their states and homes.
“We are not happy about the arraignment of those minors for their participation in a protest. It is most unfortunate and shameful for our country’s democracy. But those who were involved in their arrest should have abided by the law of the land against detention of minors.
“We are alarmed by the distressing condition of malnourished children in court, many of whom may not meet the legal age threshold for formal arraignment.
“We are appealing to the Nigerian judiciary to safeguard the rights of minors unjustly detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“We are also calling on those who arrested the children to protect the minors from inhumane treatment, attend to the physical and mental distress caused by prolonged detention and malnutrition.
“We want to emphasise the importance of collective action in upholding a vision of Nigeria that values justice, equity, and the rights of every child to a safe and dignified life.
“However, we are satisfied that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has agreed that it has come to his notice that the police arraigned those arrested in connection with the protest in court for various offences including treason.
“We are also happy that the Minister has said that there are some issues his office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable him take an informed decision.”
“ATT urged the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) as demanded by the Justice.