HURIWA URGES PRESIDENT TINUBU TO RELEASE THE ‘MALNOURISHED’ MINORS BEING TRIED FOR TREASON OVER ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTESTS

Even as a minor, who is among 76 persons set to be arraigned by the Nigerian Police Force for participating in the recent EndBadGovernance protest that held across the country, on Friday, collapsed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been urged to free the detainees.

Making the plea in a media statement on Friday is the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) which stated that the actions of the Nigeria Police Force in clamping down on the children, detaining them under clearly excruciating circumstances for 80 days and then to produce them in the Federal High court whereby the whole World has seen these minors looking terribly malnourished or suffering from circumstances not unconnected with physical or psychological torture, has depicted Nigeria as a nation that has no respect for the fundamental rights of children.

“The question that most people around the world would be asking is whether Nigeria has degenerated to the level of lawless Burma in East Asia whereby the human rights of the citizens are neither protected or promoted.

This show of shame has also exposed Nigeria as a nation that goes to the United Nations to declare that it has abolished torture but the minors who were brought to court have created the opposite impression about the commitment of Nigeria to abolish tortures of all ramifications.

Today is definitely a very sad day for Nigeria.”

“The United Nations subcommittee on Prevention of Torture which reportedly visited Nigeria in September, would definitely need to revisit Nigeria and spend adequate time to verify the massive and callous applications of tortures in the different state administered detention centres all around the Country and then take strong measures to compel the government of Nigeria to abolish tortures comprehensively.”

The Rights group citing media report narrated that the defendant who is barely 15 years old, slumped as the charge was about to be read to them by trial Justice Obiora Egwuatu just as the incident reportedly compelled the presiding judge to abruptly halt the proceedings and return to his chambers.

With the help of lawyers in the courtroom, the frail looking boy was rushed to the court’s clinic as his co-defendants, who are mostly minors, weep uncontrollably.

One of the counsel representing the defendants, Mr. Deji Adeyanju had earlier disclosed that the minors had spent over 80 days in police custody.

He revealed that the 76 defendants, who will be answering to a 10-count charge marked: FCH/ABJ/CS/503/2024, are among many others that were arrested in Abuja and Kano state during the protest

Specifically, police, in the charge that was signed by its team of lawyers led by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, alleged that the defendants, alongside others that are currently at large, had between July 31 and August 4, at Abuja and Kano metropolis, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilize Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony.

HURIWA however, affirmed that the video evidence showing too many ‘malnourished’ and apparently ‘tortured’ minors in the courtroom of the twenty first century Nigeria is a blight on human consciences just as the Rights group said the President must act swiftly to order the release, rehabilitation and rehabilitation of these minors into the larger society and ensure that they are sent to school or workshops to learn economically empowering skills.

The Rights group said: “Criticism aside, we as human rights practitioners, are urging the President, as a Parent himself, to reflect on the long-term global opprobrium, humiliation and disrespect to Nigeria’s global image, that this action of the Nigeria police that have actually proceeded to produce dozens of minors who from their physical appearances, are clearly malnourished and are showing signs of prolonged emotional, psychological and physical torture, to the courtroom in what appears like a clear violation of their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right to the dignity of the human person.

We are saying let the bygones be bygones and the President should immediately release these children and order the federal ministry of women affairs to enroll them in schools or vocational training institutions to be trained in different self-sustaining opportunities and skills and supported to live normal life and contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria.”