The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the arrest and prosecution of minors from northern Nigeria who appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of treason and other alleged offenses for their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the forum described the situation as a “show of shame” and a clear example of excessive official high-handedness.
Professor Tukur Muhammad-Babahe, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, criticized the prosecution of the minors, calling it a “strong-arm tactic” commonly seen in authoritarian and intolerant regimes seeking to suppress citizens.
Read Also: Nigerian Correctional Service Speaks On Minors Detained Over #EndBadGovernance Protest
He also voiced disappointment over the judge’s reported absence from court and the unreasonable bail conditions imposed on the detainees.
“It was not just the impossible monetary condition but to ask the detainees to provide sureties who must be senior government officials is beyond belief, these being citizens from the lower rungs of society who may never have been to Abuja! Shorn of all niceties or political correctness, the trial simply assaults common sense and it is, in this regard as scandalous and reckless as can be,” the statement read.
The forum observed that the incident casts President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a negative light, both domestically and internationally, as reflected in coverage by major global news outlets.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) therefore urged the Federal Government to immediately end the detention and trial of the arrested individuals, release the “suspects,” and reunite them with their families safely.
Additionally, the ACF called on the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ detention, which has exceeded the constitutional limit of 24 hours, extending beyond three months.
It also recommended financial compensation for the detainees, who endured prolonged and unjust detention, along with access to medical assessments, necessary treatment, and professional psychological evaluation and counseling.
Moreover, the ACF pressed the Federal Government to re-evaluate its approach to managing protests, ensuring strict adherence to constitutional processes, good governance principles, and international best practices.
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