Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the legislator for Kogi Central, has vehemently denounced the detention of children who participated in the recent #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, calling it “inhumane and unjust.”
The senator also urged Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of the Federation, to look into the detention order issued by Federal High Court Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Saturday.
72 defendants, including the undernourished children, were given N10 million bail by Egwuatu for their alleged involvement in the statewide #EndBadGovernance demonstration.
The judge stipulated that two sureties in an equivalent amount must be provided by each defendant.
Akpoti-Uduaghan asserts that it is unethical and a violation of their fundamental human rights to hold minors in medium-sized correctional facilities.
She emphasized the need for juvenile courts to try children and to protect their identities by not displaying or publishing them in court.
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Citing inadequate facilities and malnourishment, the senator also urged Haliru Nababa, the Controller of Prisons, to look into the conditions under which juveniles are being held at the Kuje prisons.
“Junior correctional facilities should be used instead of Kuje Medium Security Custodian Center, which is not designed for detaining children,” she emphasized.
Since “unscrupulous adults likely used them to commit crimes,” Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Federal Government to “temper justice with mercy” and free the jailed minors.
“Children should be in school, not detention,” she continued.
