The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has said that no law in Nigeria prohibits the prosecution of minors.
Fagbemi stated this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing journalists regarding a recent court order to release about 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters (minors and adults) who the Nigeria Police Force had previously arraigned.
“Let me seize this opportunity to clarify something. We are under the impression that because they are children and minors (the arraigned #EndBadGovernance protesters), various theories have come up. There is no law in this country which says that a minor cannot be tried,” he stated.
According to the AGF, the minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protest were rightly arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest lasted from August 1-10. Some protesters were arrested and arraigned in different parts of the country.
The trial of the children drew condemnation from many, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Amnesty International, Peter Obi among others who described the situation as shameful.
Worried by the backlash, President Bola Tinubu on Monday directed the AGF to withdraw the charges against the minors.
The minister commended Tinubu for directing the Ministry of Justice to facilitate the immediate release of the children.
He described the President’s gesture as one taken out of compassion, despite the evidence at the disposal of security agencies.