The Nigerian Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed the Attorney General of Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to ensure immediate release of all minors arraigned for #EndBadGovernance protest.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made this known on Monday while speaking on the President’s directive.
Idris also said that the President also directed that all charges against the minors be dropped without prejudice to all legal processes.
“I recall that I had a short briefing with Mr. President early this evening, and he has directed the immediate release of all the minors that have been arrested by the Nigerian police, without prejudice to whatever legal processes there. The President has directed that all of them be released immediately,” he said.
Idris added that the President has considered the Humanitarian side of the story and hence directed their release without prejudice.
“Of course, if you look at this issue, there is the legal side of it, but there is also the human angle, the humanitarian side of it. Mr. President has directed that whatever the circumstance are, let the minors be released they can, of course, continue whatever process there are, if indeed there are, as stipulated by our laws, but the minors, the President has directed that all of them be released.”
The Minister also stated that the President further directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty reduction to immediately see to the welfare of the minors, while the ministry ensures their smooth reunion with their parents and guardians.
“Second, the President has also directed the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure that they are smooth reunion with their parents or guardians, wherever they are in the country.
“The President has directed that a committee will be set up immediately to be headed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is actually an Administrative Committee to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, the treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“President has also directed that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated and if found guilty of any infractions must face appropriate disciplinary action.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if there are any infractions, found to have been committed by any official of government, be him, a law enforcement agency, or whoever that person may be appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.
“The President has directed that these children, these minors released immediately. This is, of course, without prejudice to whatever legal processes there are,” the minister added.
The Minister of Information was accompanied by the Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation, Sunday Dare and the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, intervened in the case of 114 End Bad Governance protesters, minors arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
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