- As NBA Lagos former Vice Chair faults AGF on ‘no law forbids trial of minors’
After spending 100 days in detention, six minors who were arraigned before Hon. Justice A. M. Dume of High Court No.10 in Borno State, Maiduguri finally got their freedom through the advocacy of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Citizens Liberties Committee.
This is even as Abiye Tam-George, a former Vice-Chair, NBA, Lagos Branch faulted the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi SAN’s position that no law forbids forbids trial of minors.
“Every child, regardless of the nature of the offence, is entitled to special protection and consideration within the child justice system. Children cannot be tried as adults, and courts have a discretionary duty to ensure their rights are protected.
“In cases involving serious offences such as treason or murder, the court must take extra precautions. Specifically, the judge should instruct a Child Development Officer to prepare a Social Inquiry Report on the minor. This report provides crucial context on the child’s background, circumstances, and developmental needs.
“Failure to follow these essential procedures constitutes an injustice, is illegal, and raises serious moral concerns,” she said.
Six out of the 11 Defendants arraigned in the said BOHC/MG/CV/217/2024 were minors. They were all released to their parents on the application made by Adamu Askira, Esq. Member NBA CLC, though the said Application was aggressively contested by the Prosecution Counsel.
The defense presented the Certificates of birth of the minors from the Bar. Their names are as follows:
1. Halle Dahiru
2. Bashir Ahmad
3. Sadiq Abubakar
4. Musa Lawan
5. Abubakar Tijjani
6. Mohammed Abubakar
This intervention was made possible through the efforts of the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee, led by Chairman Nuhu Egya, with the support of Daniel Kip, and in partnership with Hope Behind Bars Africa and members of the NBA & lawyers in Borno state.
Prior to the court sitting, Advocacy letters were sent by the NBA CLC to key stakeholders, including the Attorney General, to ensure justice was served.
The Minors left the Court with smiles on their faces, having reunited with their families.
