Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has urged the Federal Government to discontinue the charge against 101 protesters #EndBadGovernance protesters.
His demand comes after President Tinubu on Monday directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to release minors arrested and facing prosecution over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Falana in a statement said that dropping the charge against the minors is not enough, demanding that charge against the remaining 101 protesters be also dropped.
The statement read, “In view of the directive of President Bola Tinubu that the treason charge against the malnourished children be withdrawn, it is hoped that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN will formally discontinue the frivolous charge by filing a nolle prosequi application at the Federal High Court.
“The Attorney-general of the Federation should also discontinue the charge pending against the remaining 101 protesters as there is no scintilla of evidence to support the charge of treason arising from the #endbadgovernance protests that took place in several states last August.
“However, in a desperate bid to prove the grave charge of treason against the 130 defendants including 29 minors and thereby expose the Federal Government of Nigeria to unprecedented ridicule, the Police Prosecutor had set out to tender 76 Russian flags, two fire extinguishers, two prepaid meters, letters of arrest and statements of the suspects at the trial court.
“Please find the proof of evidence compiled by the Police Prosecutor below:
Police had last Friday brought 72 minors before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, attracting an outrage against the government by many Nigerians.
The defendants, who were accused of treason, among others, were arrested in places like Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states. Some of them looked gaunt and poorly fed and collapsed in court.
The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, granted N10 million bail to 72 minors who were arraigned.
However, President Tinubu has directed the immediate release of all the detained minors.