An Abuja court on Tuesday released 119 individuals, including minors, who had been detained in connection with anti-government protests earlier this year. The protesters had faced charges, including treason and inciting a military coup, following the widespread demonstrations against economic hardship in August. Some of the charges carried the death penalty.
The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the treasonable charges after the federal government decided to withdraw them. The case had initially been set for a hearing in January but was fast-tracked after President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of all minors detained during the protests and instructed that charges against them be dropped.
“The case has been struck out and the 119 protesters have been released,” said Deji Adeyanju, the legal counsel representing the detainees. “Now, we are calling for their rehabilitation and compensation by their respective state governments.”
The decision to drop the charges was made by the Attorney General of the Federation, who assumed control of the case from the police. In his ruling, Obiora Egwuata noted that the Attorney General had the authority under Nigerian law to take over and discontinue criminal cases, in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The protesters had been charged with a range of serious offenses, including attempting to destabilize the Nigerian government and inciting the military to take over from Tinubu. The charges also accused them of participating in violent protests, burning government buildings, and distributing anti-government materials. Some of the defendants were alleged to have worked with a British national, Andrew Martin Wynne (also known as Andrew Povich), to carry out the protests aimed at destabilizing the country.
Earlier this month, some of the accused collapsed in court shortly after the proceedings began, reportedly due to hunger and ill health, which led to a temporary suspension of the trial.
Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyers Femi Falana and Dantinin Kyari, representing the defendants, did not oppose the withdrawal of the charges, acknowledging the application was consistent with the Child Rights Act and the well-being of the accused.
Despite the legal victory, the protestors’ legal team continues to press for compensation and rehabilitation for those affected by the detentions. They are also calling for systemic reforms to prevent such instances in the future, citing the adverse impact on the accused’s lives, especially minors involved in the protests.
The decision to release the detainees and drop the charges signals a significant moment in the ongoing debate about freedom of expression and the right to protest in Nigeria, a country that has faced criticism for its handling of public demonstrations in recent years.
