The Counsel to the Federal Government, in the case against the protesters during the #EndBadGovernance protest, Rimazonte Ezekiel has said that the 76 minors arraigned in court were married men.
This is coming against the outcry that have trailed the protesters arraignment in a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
However, drama ensued at the court when four of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, including two minors slumped in court. They were, however, taken to hospital. While 114 protesters of them were granted N10 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.
Justuce Obiora Egwuatu admitted them to bail after hearing the defence lawyers’ application and the prosecution’s submission.
The case was subsequently adjourned to January.
However, videos of the court proceeding showing minors among the suspects have triggered outrage among Nigerians.
This is even as human rights activists, civil society groups, politicians, social commentators have criticized the arraignment.
Reacting to the outburst, the counsel to the Federal Government, Ezekiel, dismissed the claim.
Addressing the press after the ruling on Friday, the lawyer stated that the minors have wives who came with their parents to the court.
“These boys that we brought to the court today are adults. Most of them are married men. None of them is a minor. Some of them are University graduates. The small kids you are seeing here today came with their parents to come and greet their loved ones.
“They are not even the real suspects standing trial in this case. These boys were arrested in Kaduna and Zaria. Do you know how much it cost us to be at this level of democracy in this country?
“These young boys are trying to destabilize Nigeria using the Russian and other countries flags. While calling on the military to remove our President.
“Is it fair? To even remove the State Governors. If they don’t want democracy again, are we forcing them? Everybody is enjoying their fundamental human rights. Nobody is abusing their rights. Everything is moving on well in the country. Only for these boys for no reason to start protests with Russia and other countries’ flags,” he said.
source: Daily Trust
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