Court Strikes Out Treason Charge Against Minors As FG Withdraws Case

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu as struck out the treason charge preferred against the minors who participated in the August #EndBadGovernance protest following its withdrawal by the Federal Government.

It was struck out after the application was moved by Mohammed Abubakar, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

Abubakar, who is the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, premised his application on provisions of Sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The lawyer, who told the court that the AGF had officially taken over the case file, said the Federal Government had decided to discontinue the case against the protesters.

The DPPF also applied for the proceeding to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom in line with provisions of Section 266 (b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

Counsel to the defendants, including Femi Fanala (SAN), did not oppose the application.

Justice Egwuatu, consequently, struck out the charge against the protesters who were minors.

Justice Egwuatu had on Friday admitted the 114 protesters arraigned by the police to a N10 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge admitted them to bail after hearing the defence lawyers’ application and the prosecution’s submission.