Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered the release of all minors arrested and undergoing trial for their roles during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The President ordered that the minors should be released immediately.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Ibrahim Idris disclosed this on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Idris said the President also instructed that all charges against the minors be dropped immediately.
The Vice President, Sen Kashim Shettima will hold a formal handover ceremony today, Tuesday, November 5, to transfer custody of minors to governors from their respective northern states.
This move marks a significant step after the children spent three months in custody under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The detainees, who were initially arraigned on charges of treason, would be released at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to Sahara reporter.
Earlier, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), finalized the necessary paperwork to secure their release, following national and international calls for their freedom.
President Tinubu’s order for the release came after a strong public backlash. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressed the press on Monday at the Aso Rock Villa, confirming the President’s directive.
A source in the Presidency told SaharaReporters, “The Vice President is to receive them after they leave court tomorrow (Tuesday) and hand each everyone of them back to their state governors from the north at an ‘elaborate’ ceremony.”
“The scandal following the appearance of and charges filed against the malnourished children last week became an international scandal for the Tinubu regime,” the source added.
On Tuesday, Idris said, “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.
“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
The directive followed an uproar over the trial of the detainees arraigned on Friday and charged with ten felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny.
