KEY POINTS

• Legal experts demand accountability for officials over the detainment of minors in adult prisons.
• Critics say charging young protesters with treason undermines democratic values.
• Prominent figures question President Tinubu’s stance on civil rights given his own activist background.

Stakeholders in Nigeria, including prominent legal scholars, rights activists, and former government officials, have condemned the federal government’s recent actions against minors involved in anti-government protests.

Critics argue that the detainment of underage protesters alongside adults and the levying of treason charges against them represent a harsh overreach, urging disciplinary action against key figures involved in the case.

Outrage over treason charges and detainment of minors

High-profile figures such as Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, and Prof. Chidi Odinkalu have voiced strong opposition to the federal government’s handling of recent protests, where Nigerians demonstrated against economic hardships linked to recent policies under President Bola Tinubu. 

According to these experts, prosecuting minors on treason charges undermines the principles of democracy and free speech.  

The protesters, including several minors, were detained for over three months in prisons alongside convicted adults before appearing in court. 

Some collapsed in the courtroom, allegedly due to malnutrition and poor conditions in detention. 

Odinkalu, a former chair of the National Human Rights Commission, pointed out the irony of Tinubu’s administration labeling protest actions as treasonous, given Tinubu’s own history of protest activism.

Call for accountability of key figures

The legal community is calling for accountability from government and judicial officials, including the judge who approved the minors’ detention and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). 

They also urge the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to investigate the judge’s role in the minors’ imprisonment.

Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, criticized the judiciary for allowing underage individuals to be held with adults, which he deemed a violation of basic legal standards for juvenile rights. 

Professor Kalu highlighted that the government’s approach to managing protests, particularly with minors involved, represents a disproportionate response that equates to “killing a fly with a sledgehammer.” 

Kalu questioned the IGP’s role, asserting that law enforcement should respect the boundaries of lawful protest. 

Government’s democratic claims questioned

Emmanuel Aiyede, a professor specializing in political institutions, further questioned President Tinubu’s democratic values, describing him as someone who promotes democratic ideals but reacts strongly against dissent. 

According to Vanguard, he noted that under Tinubu’s leadership, state security forces have been aggressive towards peaceful protesters, undermining the government’s claims of democratic governance. 

“For a leader with such a history of activism, this harsh response to dissent is both surprising and disappointing,” Aiyede remarked.

The federal government recently ordered the release of the minors following widespread criticism, with the Attorney-General withdrawing the treason charges. 

However, human rights advocates are calling for further investigation into the circumstances of the detention and the judicial process that allowed these minors to face adult criminal proceedings.