Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday advised the now-released minors earlier detained for their role in last August’s protest to turn a new leaf and build responsible futures.
Addressing the minors at the State House Auditorium, Abuja, Shettima argued that President Bola Tinubu’s decision, made on humanitarian grounds despite evidence of wrongdoing, was an opportunity for personal reform.
He encouraged them not to let themselves be drawn into violence or actions that could harm public and private property, noting that the protests had resulted in a N300bn economic loss.
Shettima said, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, instructed the release of the suspect on humanitarian grounds, despite incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetration and actions, some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves.
“The President, as the father of the nation, is giving these young men another chance to become responsible citizens who will make a positive impact in a drive for a better Nigeria.
“I would like to admonish you, young men, not allow yourselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property. Over N300bn was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private property and loss of business. Of these, 76 were from Kano, and 73 have now been handed over to Governor Yusuf.”
On Monday, Tinubu directed the AGF to ensure the immediate release of the minors detained by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to any ongoing legal processes.
The directive came days after 76 people, including 30 minors, were charged with treason and inciting a military coup after they were seen waving Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protests against economic hardship.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Idris said after examining the circumstances surrounding the cases, Tinubu issued the directive and emphasised the importance of balancing legal processes with humanitarian concerns.
“I had a short briefing with Mr President this evening, and he has directed the immediate release of all the minors that have been arrested by the Nigerian police without prejudice to whatever legal processes. They are all minors. The President has directed that all of them be released immediately,” he announced.
In August, the country witnessed widespread protests under the #EndBadGovernance movement, driven by public dissatisfaction with economic hardship and governance issues.
The demonstrations escalated, leading to the arrest of 76 individuals, including 30 minors aged between 14 and 17, who were charged with serious offences such as treason and inciting a military coup.
The defendants, detained for three months, were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.
The Inspector General of Police arraigned them on 10 counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.
Notably, during their arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja, at least four minors collapsed, prompting widespread outrage and condemnation from civil society groups and human rights activists.
On Monday, however, the President instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to prioritise the immediate welfare of the minors and to ensure they are with their parents or guardians, regardless of their location within the country.
To the released detainees, Shettima said, “I will advise you, you are our children, to use the opportunity of the President’s magnanimous gesture in ensuring that you overcome and become responsible citizens who will contribute to the growth of the society.”
He also called on governors and elected representatives from all political backgrounds to unite and support the rehabilitation and reintegration of the released protesters into their communities.
“I will urge our governors and our elected representatives here that cut across the political divide; what binds us together as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria supersedes whatever divides.
“I will call our two governors and our Representatives into a single cause and ensure that these subjects are rehabilitated and reintegrated into the fabric of our communities,” said the VP.
Kano receives minors
For his part, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who spoke in Hausa, promised funding for those who intend to start businesses and scholarships for those still schooling.
Sani said, “As you all know, you are all our children. We struggled for the restoration of democracy under military rule. Because of that, most of us were jailed. I was jailed four times. At that time, my father was a judge at the Federal High Court.
“Today, as I entered, your lawyer was seated beside me. All those people talking on radio and social media, none of their children are here. Those telling you, ‘I was a former presidential candidate or a former governor,’ where are their children here? If they ask you to come out and protest, tell them to bring their children first.
“From now on, what you must prioritise is business. So we will give you capital to start a business. And for those of you schooling, we will help you continue your education wherever you want.”
The Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf commended President Tinubu for responding to public calls and releasing the detained minors.
While he received the teenagers from Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Yusuf described the release as a generous gesture toward the youth of Kano State.
“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for his compassion in responding to the appeals from various stakeholders within and outside Nigeria.
“Mr President has demonstrated remarkable empathy and commitment to justice, and we truly appreciate his gesture.”
The 76 minors who had been detained in connection with the August protests will be flown back to Kano, where they will undergo a medical evaluation and receive necessary treatment before being reunited with their families.
Governor Yusuf promised to enrol the children into local schools, providing them opportunities to rebuild their lives and realise their full potential.
“In light of the gravity of the charges against them, we recognise the importance of offering these children a second chance.
“While their actions were regrettable, their status as minors should not deny them the opportunity to rehabilitate and contribute positively to society,” Governor Yusuf was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi DawakinTofa.
DawakinTofa said a team of medical professionals has been designated to assess the physical and mental health of the released minors.
They will be reunited with their families afterwards and offered continued support to ensure they can live normal, productive lives.
Governor Yusuf also reassured the VP that his administration would continue to monitor the well-being of the released minors and provide the necessary support to ensure their successful reintegration into society.
Three minors were reunited with their families, while 39 others from Kaduna State were handed over to Governor Uba Sani.
The protesters arrived at the State House Auditorium at about 02:00 pm (local time). They were received by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu to be handed over to their respective state governors.
Present were the Deputy Senate President, Jubrin Barau; Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi and Governors of Kaduna, Uba Sani and Kano, Abba Yusuf; Ministers of Education, Tunji Alausa; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, Environment, Balarabe Lawal are also at the venue.
Others are ministers of state for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement Northwest, Abdullahi Yakasai.
Court drops charges
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out the charges brought against the 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters.
They had been arraigned on Friday, November 1, on charges bordering on treasonable felony, intent to destabilise Nigeria, and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.
The defendants were arraigned in two batches at the previous proceeding.
The first batch comprised 76 protesters, including 32 minors, while the second batch comprised 43 protesters.
At the resume of proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, M. D Abubakar, who appeared for the AGF, told Justice Egwuatu that the Federal Government has decided to take over and discontinue the matter.
Citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, Abubakar told the court that the AGF, with the exercise of his powers, wishes to take over the case from the Inspector-General of Police.
He said, “We have an application to take over the matter and to discontinue same in accordance with section 174 of the constitution”.
The AGF’s application was not opposed to by the defence counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), who said, “We have no objection to the application because it is in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act as well as several provisions of the Child Rights Act.”
“The AGF has the power to take over the case at any stage and exercise his discretion to discontinue the suit,” Falana added.
The court granted the request upon the agreement of the parties involved that the AGF should take over the matter.
After the court granted the request, the AGF cited authorities from the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 119 accused persons.
The defence counsel did not oppose this request either. Following the no/objection from the defence, Justice Egwuatu struck out the charges.
Although the accused persons were not in court, the judge ordered their immediate release from prison remand.
On the evening of Friday, November 1, after the arraignment, the AGF disclosed in a statement that he was taking over the case.
He then directed the Police Chief to hand over the case file. As requested, the IGP handed over the case file to the AGF’s office on Saturday, November 2.
A new date, Tuesday, November 5, was subsequently set, bringing the next hearing on the matter forward. It was previously scheduled for January 24, 2025.
The charges brought against the 76 protesters, among others, read, Count one: “That between July 31, 2024, to August 4, 2024, at Abuja FCT and Kano Metropolis within the jurisdiction of this court while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria conspired together to commit felony to wit: Treason. You, thereby, committed an offence contrary to section 96 and punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code.
Count two, “that within the jurisdiction of this court while acting in concert and with intent to destabilised Nigeria conspired together to commit felony to wit: inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 and punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code.
Count three, “that between July 31, 2024, to August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, within the jurisdiction of this court while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), a British Citizen, with intent to destabilised Nigeria levies war against the state to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex. Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna investment and promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004”.
The FG also accused them of being with the intent to destabilise Nigeria by inciting mutiny and calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by chanting ‘Tinubu most go’ “soja muskeso’ meaning Tinubu must go, it is military we want. At the same time, rioting and disturbing public peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 413 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
The second batch, who were arraigned on a four-count of similar charges as the first, immediately after the close of proceedings of the first batch, like the 76 defendants earlier arraigned, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Falana warns FG
In a similar vein, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the Federal Government to reintegrate and send all the minors arrested during the protests to school.
While reviewing a book titled “Judiciary Terrorism” by Richard Akinnola in Abuja on Tuesday, Falana said the FG was too embarrassed to bring another set of individuals, including 29 minors, to court after Friday’s public outcry.
Falana vowed to take the FG to court if the minors were not sent to school, insisting that the withdrawal of the case was not enough.
He said, “Just this morning, before this programme commenced, I was in the courts in Abuja, here, where 119 Nigerians, including twenty-nine minors, were brought to court. But the government was so ashamed that it couldn’t take them to the courtroom, unlike last week. The government came to the court this morning to withdraw the frivolous charges. So, the young people have been freed.
“But as I did say to the court, it’s not enough to terminate this trial. These young people, who ordinarily should have been in school during the protests, must be rehabilitated by the government. And we are going to ensure that they are rehabilitated and sent to school.
“If the government fails, we are going to court to sue the government. Because it is the responsibility of the government, by virtue of the child’s rights law, which has been adopted and enacted into law by all the states of the Federation. Section 15 of that law provides that every child in Nigeria shall be given free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school.”
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Kukah, said the worst period in the country’s history was over and urged citizens to remain united.
Kukah noted that many issues arise in the country because many citizens do not understand what it means to be without a nation.
He encouraged citizens to look at places like Gaza and Lebanon and to stop turning against one another.
Kukah explained, “We might assume, and I think we are going to assume, that the worst times in our history are over. But let us remain eternally together. Because what we have and what we hold is a treasure. This is a heck of a country, and it’s a great country. And people have laid down their lives for this country. I used to say to Nigerians that we are just joking because we don’t know what it is to be without a country.
“What did the people of Gaza do? What did the people of Lebanon do? What did the people of Valencia do? We are hearing stories of earthquakes and incredible things happening that are sweeping the lives of hundreds of thousands of people daily.
“But in Nigeria, we are collectively turning the knife on ourselves. So, I think that going forward, the most important thing for you as a Christian is to develop the spirit of forgiveness and that nothing will happen that is outside the boundary of the divine will of God.”
Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, represented by Owei Lakemfa, lamented that after 32 years of civil rule, the country’s judicial system still harbours military parasites.
He said, “When the Buhari administration in 2019 was not sure it could control the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, it got the Code of Conduct Tribunal to accuse him of alleged false asset declaration. That way, it got rid of the CJN. It was not until November 2024 that he was discharged and acquitted.”
In a veiled response to his comments, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor (retd.), urged that the military should not be painted negatively because few personnel misuse their powers.
He said in the military, no one is taught how to plot a coup or abuse power.
Irabor said, “When you talk about military terrorism, the connotation to the public is that the military, as we have it in the Nigerian military, is capable of engaging in ignoble acts. There are people, including civilians, who misuse power. So when power is misused, it does not imply, just like we also have in the judiciary, it is not the broad brush of the judiciary that should be painted in the negative.
“Rather, it should be that individuals within the judiciary must be pointed out, hoping that it will address issues that have to do with the judiciary and justice service. For me, while thanking all the good work that many of you have done great work in the past to ensure that we have democracy, and once we ensure that never again shall we have the kind of ignoble occurrences that have led to the writing of this book, involving some members of the military, that the military remains an institution, an establishment for the Nigerian people.
“It is not the military as an establishment that engages in abnormalities. There is nowhere in our training or curriculum that you will be taught how to conduct coups or misuse power. It does not exist.”
