Outrage has erupted in Nigeria over the arraignment of 76 individuals, including 32 minors, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja for their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
Civil society groups and rights activists criticised both the police and the government for the arrests. The defendants, detained for three months, were arrested in Abuja as well as in Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.
The Inspector General of Police arraigned them on 10 charges, including treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, and incitement to mutiny by urging the military to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The protests, held nationwide from August 1 to 10, highlighted economic hardship and poor governance, with demonstrators demanding a reduction in governance costs, the return of the petrol subsidy, food security, and improved fiscal discipline. Some protests escalated into violence, leading to incidents of looting and vandalism.
Of the 76 arraigned on Friday, 32 were minors aged between 14 and 17. Video clips on social media showed the unkempt and malnourished children scrambling for water and biscuits.
During the proceedings, several visibly weak minors were called to enter pleas but, in a sudden turn, four collapsed in the courtroom. This led the judge to pause the session as they were hurriedly carried out by lawyers and prison officials. Justice Egwuatu, visibly disturbed, briefly left for his chambers.
Upon resuming, prosecution counsel Audu Garba informed the court that the day’s session was for arraignment, noting that some defendants were outside due to limited space. The judge insisted all defendants be accommodated in the courtroom.
The prosecution requested the court strike out the names of the sick defendants and discharge them until they were fit to return for trial. Defence counsel Marshall Abubakar argued for their acquittal, highlighting their deteriorating health and lack of food over three days.
The prosecution refuted the claim, asserting that the defendants had been well-treated in custody. However, the judge ordered the release of the four sick minors — Umar Yunusa, Usman Suraju, Musa Isiyaku, and Abdul Ganiu — until they recover.
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