BREAKING: Tinubu Orders Review of Minors’ Treason Charges Amid Global Outcry and National Backlash

BREAKING: Tinubu Orders Review of Minors’ Treason Charges Amid Global Outcry and National Backlash

In a dramatic response to mounting public outrage and international condemnation, President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to reassess the treason charges against several minors recently brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja. This decision follows widespread backlash over the harsh treatment of these underage detainees.

Sources revealed that President Tinubu issued the directive on Friday after the administration faced accusations of mistreating children arrested for participating in August’s #EndBadGovernance protests. The high-profile case has sparked national protests and received global media attention.

Court’s Bail Conditions Spark Further Outrage

Previously, Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to more than 70 individuals, including minors, imposing stringent conditions—each defendant required to pay a N10 million bail, which has kept many, including the minors, unable to secure their freedom. Tragically, five of the young detainees collapsed in court on Friday and were subsequently taken to the hospital.

With these children facing dire conditions in custody, human rights activists are intensifying their demands for immediate action. Deji Adeyanju, a lawyer representing the protesters, decried the court’s bail terms as punitive and impossible for the detainees’ families to meet, forcing them back into Kuje Prison.

Human Rights Groups Demand Justice

The treatment of these minors has fueled condemnation from prominent advocacy organizations nationwide. In a joint statement, groups such as the Civil Rights Council, Creative Change Centre, and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights called Tinubu’s administration “cruel” and “punitive,” urging the immediate and unconditional release of all detained minors.

These organizations further demanded that the government suspend all exorbitant bail conditions, investigate alleged abuse of the detainees, and protect the right to protest in Nigeria. They claimed the charges reflect a systemic crackdown on dissent that undermines democracy and freedom.

Urgent Call for Reforms

The groups’ statement, endorsed by activists from various movements, criticized the government for ignoring fundamental justice principles. They highlighted the physical and psychological abuse reportedly inflicted on the detained minors, urging a transparent review of all detainment and prosecution protocols.