From Victor Osula, Abuja
Minors among the 76 suspects brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja, over the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, collapsed in court on Friday.
The minors, said to be barely 15 years old, collapsed as the charge was about to be read, forcing Justice Egwuatu to abruptly halt proceedings.
With the help of lawyers in the courtroom, the frail looking boy was rushed to the court’s clinic, as his co-defendants, who are mostly minors, weep uncontrollably.
One of the lawyers representing the defendants, Deji Adeyanju, had earlier disclosed that the minors, ages between 12 and 15, had spent over 80 days in police custody.
They were allegedly arrested on August 3 and 4, 2024, and had since been in detention.
Adeyanju said the suspects are among many others that were arrested in Abuja and Kano state on August 3 and 4, 2024, during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The suspects are being charged with terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny over their participation in the nationwide protest.
A charge sheet signed by its team of lawyers, led by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, the Police alleged that the defendants, alongside others that are currently at large, had between July 31 and August 4, at Abuja and Kano metropolis, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony.
It alleged that the defendants committed treason, an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 97 of the Code.Underaged children charged with treasonable felony by the Bola Tinubu administration.
THISAGE learnt that the frivolous charge has just been struck out against the four minor defendants who collapsed in court during the arraignment.
