Arraignment of minors: Nigeria’s AGF, Fagbemi takes over from police
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has asked the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile of the 76 Endbadgovernance protesters who were arraigned for treason.
Fagbemi disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
This comes after the #Endbadgovernance protesters, described as minors, were arraigned and later granted N10 million bail each, while the matter was adjourned till January 2025.
Reacting, the AGF said the case would be taken over by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) under the Office of AGF from today, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.
He said he has directed that the DPPF commence the process for the consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward than the January next date.
Fagbemi added that his move on the matter was necessary to make him make an informed decision.
“It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the Endbadgovernance violent protest in court for various offences, including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to take an informed decision.
“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.
“I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over the same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date),” he stated.
one of the 76 minors fainted in court on Friday.
Later, it was reported that the court granted the suspects N10 million bail each.
The development attracted widespread condemnations from Nigerians.
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, condemned the arraignment, noting that the minors are not spared from Tinubu government’s hardship.
This comes as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Amnesty International Nigeria asked Tinubu’s government and the court to release all the 76 arraigned minors.
