Nigeria: Charges of At Least 119 Detainees Dropped
Past protests in Nigeria, Oct 2024 photo: EFE
November 5, 2024 Hour: 2:21 pm
The Nigerian Public Prosecutor’s Office dropped charges of treason against a total of 119 detainees, including dozens of minors, for participating in the mass marches that took thousands of Nigerians to the streets last August to protest against the high cost of living and poor governance.
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A federal court in the capital of the country, Abuja, dismissed the charges against the demonstrators after the public prosecutor announced that the charges, which also included incitement to mutiny, had been dropped, local media reported.
The detainees, including more than 30 minors, according to the Nigerian press, will be released after being brought before the courts last Friday in two groups: one of 76 and another 43 (initially only reported on the first).
The Nigerian Public Prosecutor’s Office made this decision after the appearance on that day of the frail-looking minors included in the group and the collapse in court of four of them, who were severely weak, sparked national outrage.
The attorney general “has the power to take over the case at any stage and exercise his discretion to drop the claim,” Feni Falana, one of the defense lawyers, said at the hearing on Tuesday, agreeing with the move.
The news came after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of all minors imprisoned for their participation in the protests.
“The president has ordered the immediate release of all minors detained by the Nigerian police, without prejudice to ongoing judicial processes,” Information Minister Mohammed Idris announced in a statement to the press late on Monday.
At least 21 people died on the first day of the protests called for in early August,
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE-Africanews
