HomeNewsCourt Urged To Dismiss Charges Against Minors – Falana

Court Urged To Dismiss Charges Against Minors – Falana

Published on

 


KEY POINTS


  • Femi Falana wants treason charges against minors in the #EndBadGovernance protests dismissed.
  • Falana cited national and international laws prohibiting the criminal trial of minors.
  • Demands that federal government pay for minors educational expenses fixed by legal mandates.

Protesters arrested across several states, including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, are facing charges of treason for their roles in the recent demonstrations.

Several minors began collapsing in the courtroom Friday on arrival for a mass arraignment in a sign of the physical and emotional toll of their prolonged detention.

The court also fixed bail at 10 million naira each for the defendants, but the prosecution requested that the court dismiss the charges for the defendants who collapsed.

Grounds for dismissal on legal reasons

Falana, in his defense, filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction because national and international laws prohibit initiating criminal proceedings against minors.

This, he states, is as prohibited by Section 18 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, Child’s Rights Act and Article 17 of the African Charter, all of which prohibit such prosecutions of minors.

‘No child must be tried in the course of criminal proceedings; they must be processed through the child justice system,’ Falana said.

Therefore he asked the government to pay attention to providing education to these minors, as stipulated in the Child’s Rights Act and the Universal Basic Education Act.

Charges called baseless

Falana also challenged the charges, saying that even carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘end bad government’ or chanting protest songs do not constitute criminal offences in Nigeria under the country’s Penal Code.

The reference is drawn from Sections 416 and 114 of the Penal Code and also from constitutional provisions, he said, arguing the charges have no legal merit.

Falana also called on the federal government to bear the cost of education of the minors, paying their school fees up to senior secondary or university education as required by law.

Widespread criticism

According to Vanguard, Amnesty International has condemned arraigning the minors as a violation of their legal rights and called on the State to ‘release these children in custody now.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra governor Peter Obi, ex–senator Shehu Sani, among prominent Nigerian figures to oppose prosecution of minors, call for minors’ release.

Latest articles

Tetracore Expands Board, Welcomes Onyema, Abubakar, and Oni

Tetracore Energy Group expands its board with three new directors to drive growth, innovation, and sustainable energy transformation across Africa

Tetracore Appoints Dayo Williams as MD to Boost Nigeria’s Gas and Clean Energy

Tetracore Energy Group has named Dayo Williams as Managing Director of its subsidiaries, strengthening the company's emphasis on domestic gas utilisation, the expansion of renewable energy, and regional energy transition, in alignment with Nigeria's industrialisation and energy security objectives

FG Vows Crackdown on Forced Fruit Ripening, Adulterated Oil

FG vows to punish traders using toxic chemicals for forced fruit ripening and adulterated oil as agencies intensify food safety crackdown.

FG Says Customer Service Is a Right, Not a Privilege

Federal Government says customer service is a right, not privilege, urging Immigration officers to uphold SERVICOM reforms.

More like this

Tetracore Expands Board, Welcomes Onyema, Abubakar, and Oni

Tetracore Energy Group expands its board with three new directors to drive growth, innovation, and sustainable energy transformation across Africa

Tetracore Appoints Dayo Williams as MD to Boost Nigeria’s Gas and Clean Energy

Tetracore Energy Group has named Dayo Williams as Managing Director of its subsidiaries, strengthening the company's emphasis on domestic gas utilisation, the expansion of renewable energy, and regional energy transition, in alignment with Nigeria's industrialisation and energy security objectives

FG Vows Crackdown on Forced Fruit Ripening, Adulterated Oil

FG vows to punish traders using toxic chemicals for forced fruit ripening and adulterated oil as agencies intensify food safety crackdown.