Detained minor collapses in court as dozens of young End Bad Governance protesters are arraigned

A minor, who is among 76 persons set to be arraigned by the Nigerian Police Force for participating in the recent EndBadGovernance protest that held across the country, on Friday, November 1, collapsed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The minor who is barely 15 years old was brought into courtroom alongside 75 other minors, all looking malnourished and unkempt. The yet-to-be-identified minor slumped as the charge was about to be read to them by trial Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

The incident forced the judge to abruptly halt the proceedings and return to his chambers.

With the help of lawyers in the courtroom, the frail looking boy was rushed to the court’s clinic as his co-defendants, who are mostly minors, weep uncontrollably.

One of the counsel representing the defendants, Deji Adeyanju had earlier disclosed that the minors had spent over 80 days in police custody.

He revealed that the 76 defendants, who will be answering to a 10-count charge marked: FCH/ABJ/CS/503/2024, are among many others that were arrested in Abuja and Kano state during the protest that held in August this year.

Specifically, police, in the charge that was signed by its team of lawyers led by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, alleged that the defendants, alongside others that are currently at large, had between July 31 and August 4, at Abuja and Kano metropolis, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilize Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony.

It alleged that the defendants committed treason, an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 97 of the Code.