Police, NHRC Clash Over Treason Charges Against EndBadGovernance Minors

Kehinde Fajobi

The Nigerian Police Force and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) debated on Friday over the legality of prosecuting minors arrested during protests for treason and related charges.

This exchange took place during the public presentation of a report titled Beyond the Protests: An Explanatory Study of the #EndBadGovernance Protest in Nigeria organised by Kimpact Development Initiative in Abuja.

Last August, the #EndBadGovernance movement swept across the country, driven by public frustration over economic challenges and governance issues.

The protests led to the arrest of 76 individuals, including 30 minors, who were charged with offences such as treason and inciting a military coup. Following public outrage, President Bola Tinubu granted them pardons.

NHRC Executive Secretary Anthony Ojukwu, represented by Benedict Agu, criticised the police’s actions, describing them as unprofessional.

“It is true the law says no child below seven is liable for prosecution. But as a human rights advocate, we disagree with the police with regard to how those minors were treated.

“We were among the first few people to interview these children when they were remanded,” he said.

Ojukwu questioned the rationale behind charging children with treason, adding, “Some of them even collapsed in the courtroom. What should be the basis for a mature officer of the law to say that a child who raises another country’s flag is guilty of treason?

“After all, the same law says there should be a particular due process that should be followed. Why didn’t they follow it?”

Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, represented by CSP Victor Isuku, defended the arrests.

“The Nigerian Police recognises protests based on a court judgment. If you check online and look at our press releases during the last #EndBadGovernance protest, you will realise the police are not against peaceful protests,” Adejobi said.

He added, “When you are below seven years, you may not be criminally liable. Let us not play to the gallery. The suspects were teenagers, not seven-year-olds as portrayed.

“The procedure for prosecution of minors is spelled out in the Child Rights Act. What we charged for was a serious offence that included treason.”

Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria, expressed concerns about the rising arrest of minors for expressing frustration and criticised pro-government rallies that suppress dissent.

Bukola Idowu, Executive Director of KDI, emphasised the significance of civic action.

“Our study showed that protests such as #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance demonstrate the remarkable power of civic action in shaping our nation’s future,” he said.

The report also highlighted the governance, human rights, and social media’s role in amplifying civic movements.

“By exploring the #EndBadGovernance movement, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors driving protests and their impact,” Idowu added.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.