At least 28 minors below 18 years were brought for arraignment.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Four underaged defendants charged with terrorism and treason in connection with the August #EndBadGovernance protests on Friday slumped in an Abuja Federal High Court where they were arraigned by the Inspector-General of Police.
The defendants – Usman Fatihu (21 years), Muhammed Yahaya (14 years), Muktar Ishak Alhassan (16 years) and Mustapha Ibrahim (18 years) – slumped shortly after they were called into the dock to take their pleas.
They were among a total of 76 defendants who were arraigned. Looking malnourished and unkempt, at least 28 minors below 18 years were brought for arraignment. The minors had been in detention for 3 months.
They were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Gombe in connection with the August 1-10 #EndHunger protest which held across the country from 1 to 10 August. The protest turned violent in some places, leading to deaths in some northern states.
Sequel to the arrest, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, applied for a detention order on August 8, accusing them of “terrorism, treason, treasonable felony, arson, and other terrorism-related offences.”
Following the collapse on Friday, the trial judge, Obiora Egwuatu, suspended proceedings briefly and went into his chambers until calm was restored to the courtroom. Meanwhile, the four persons who collapsed were taken out for medical attention.
Justice Egwuatu, on return to the courtroom, suspended the trial of the four individuals who slumped, saying they were “discharged till they’re medically fit.”
The other ddefendants pleaded not guilty to the 10 counts of treason, terrorism, treasonable felony and arson preferred against them by the Nigerian police and were granted bail in N10 million bond and one surety to each of the “adults”.
The surety to be presented by each of them must be at least a Level 15 civil servant with verifiable address in Abuja.
For the underage defendants, the judge ordered, they only require their “parents or guardians” to stand as their sureties.
The judge subsequently ordered the remand of the adults in the Kuje Correctional Services and the minors in the Bostal Homes pending when they fulfill their bail conditions.
The court then adjourned until 24 January for trial.