The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi is set to take over the case of 114 EndBad Governance protesters who were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
The decision follows the public outrage that has greeted their arraignment after videos from the court showed that majority of the defendants were minors as admitted by the presiding judge Obiora Egwuatu.
They had been in detention for almost three months and were brought to court for the first time on Friday.
At least two of the boys collapsed in court. Many of them looked sick and scrawny.
In a statement issued on Friday night, the AGF said the cases will be looked into.
FULL STATEMENT: “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January.
I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date)”
