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Notwithstanding the troubling video showing scores of malnourished minors arraigned in a Federal High Court on Friday alongside others over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance the presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, set their bail at N10 million or a surety at level 15 in a Federal Government Agency, along with a parent or sibling.
Troubling footage in the videos showed some of the children docked, others sitting on the floor and a particularly heart-wrenching one of a minor writhing in the arms of a crying young person.
As the defendants who were said to have been detained for three months, appeared before the bench, they looked very ill and terribly malnourished.
The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, had to abruptly adjourn the session to restore order at the court became chaotic with the sight of the sick and haggard-looking 76 defendants.
When the court reconvened, the prosecution requested that the names of the four ill children be removed from the charge, which was granted, and the remaining defendants were arraigned. The 76 defendants, arrested in various states including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, face accusations of treason and other offenses in connection with the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests that took place from August 1 to 10.
Before the court rose, His Lordship granted the suspects bail in the sum of N10 million or a surety at level 15 in a Federal Government Agency, along with a parent or sibling.
Speaking under anonymity, an outraged Nigerian asked: “Are the judges not trained on Child Protection matters, especially on juvenile justice? No one should tell me they were charged with adults. This is unacceptable.
“The children must be separated from the adults and treated differently. Knowing the nature of the offence, it’s not rocket science that the adults never encourage the children to protest.
“It’s the right of a child right to protest and their voices be heard. If they did protest it’s their right, and they should be charged separately.”
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