Mild drama unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday morning, November 1, when several teenagers arraigned by the Nigeria Police fainted, reportedly due to hunger.
The defendants in this case, who are mainly teenagers, are facing serious charges related to their involvement in a protest event known as the #EndBadGovernance movement. These teenagers are being accused of ten separate counts of terrorism, which is a very serious allegation. They are also charged with trying to overthrow the government, an act that is viewed as highly illegal and dangerous in many societies. Additionally, they are facing claims of mutiny, which suggests that they are accused of engaging in activities against authority. This protest took place over a period of ten days, starting from August 1st and continuing until August 10th.
In the legal proceedings surrounding these charges, one of the defense lawyers, whose name is Marshall Abubakar, has provided some insight into the situation. He explained that the young individuals who are facing these serious accusations have been categorized into two distinct groups. The first group includes a total of 76 defendants, which means that there are quite a few individuals in this category alone. The second group is composed of 49 defendants, indicating that there are still many others involved. This division of groups suggests a complex case where different individuals may have varying roles or levels of involvement in the protests and the alleged activities surrounding them. The situation is developing, and it is important to keep an eye on how this legal matter unfolds.
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However, just a few minutes after the first group was called to stand in the dock, a troubling situation unfolded. As some of the defendants were in the process of mounting the dock, several of them unexpectedly collapsed. This sudden collapse caused a great deal of confusion and alarm within the courtroom. The incident was significant enough that the judge decided to suspend the proceedings to address the growing concern.
According to a source familiar with the situation, this unfortunate incident of fainting among the defendants in the courtroom could be attributed to the maltreatment they had been experiencing while in custody. The source indicated that some of these individuals had not eaten for several days, which likely contributed to their weakened condition and led to their fainting spells during the court session.