Following the hearing, Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to 114 of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, setting conditions of N10 million each with two sureties of similar amounts.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has dismissed claims that minors were among the 76 protesters arraigned for participating in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations held from August 1 to August 10.
Counsel for the Federal Government, Rimazonte Ezekiel, asserted that most of those arrested are adults, including married men, some of whom are university graduates.
The protesters, who were brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, faced charges stemming from the protests, which have sparked a national debate on issues of governance and civic rights. Reports initially suggested that a number of minors were among those detained, but Ezekiel denied these claims, asserting, “These boys that we brought to the court today are adults. Most of them are married men. None of them is a minor.”
Ezekiel further clarified that some of the young children present at the court were family members who had come with their parents to show support for their loved ones. He noted that the defendants, mainly from Kaduna and Zaria, allegedly participated in protests using foreign flags and calling for military intervention, which he argued was an attempt to destabilize Nigeria.
Four protesters, including two identified as minors, reportedly collapsed during the court proceedings and were taken to the hospital. Following the hearing, Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to 114 of the protesters, setting conditions of N10 million each with two sureties of similar amounts. The next hearing is scheduled for January.
Ezekiel’s statements come in response to widespread outrage across Nigeria. Videos purportedly showing minors among the suspects have sparked backlash from human rights activists, civil society organizations, politicians, and social commentators, who have voiced criticism of the handling of the arrests by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Responding to the outcry, Ezekiel emphasized, “Nobody is abusing their rights. Everything is moving on well in the country.” He maintained that the government is upholding democratic values and ensuring the protection of fundamental rights.
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