Attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi has said that no law in Nigeria criminalises prosecution of minors.
Gatekeepers News reports that Fagbemi said this at commissioning of Law Corridor’s new office complex and presentation of a book on the modern legal system.
According to him; the minors involved in #EndBadGovernance protest were rightly arraigned before the Abuja federal high court.
Recall that protesters of the ten days nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, who were mostly minors were arrested and arraigned in different parts of the country.
President Tinubu directed AGF to withdraw the charges against the minors on Monday.
A federal high court in Abuja struck out the suit against 119 people involved in the nationwide protest. The minors were released and hosted St state house by vice president Kashim Shettima.
Reacting on masses’ criticism of the minors’ arraignment, the AGF said, “No law in this country says a minor cannot be tried, and I have also heard suggestions that they should go to a family court.”
“The study of the law and the constitution leaves you no other conclusion than that the federal high court has jurisdiction in matters bordering on treason and related issues. So, whatever the situation, the president has closed the chapter by his decision to have these young men released.”
“The president was very compassionate; he is a father and a grandfather. If you look at the facts in the possession of the security agency, you would marvel.“
“But the president said, despite all this, ‘I have children, grandchildren,’ and that motivated his passion to release them and also enable them in some ways.“
“So the credit goes to him for showing compassionate consideration in releasing the young chaps.”
