#EndBadGovernance Protests: AGF asks police to hand over case-file

The Attorney General of the Federation AGF, and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has asked the police to hand over the case-file of the ,32 minors who were arraigned for participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest in August this year.
The directive was contained in a statement he personally signed on Friday night. Fagbemi directed the  police to transfer the case-file to his office before Saturday (today) and asked the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation to immediately put the machinery in motion to ensure that the matter, which was adjourned till January next year, was brought forward.
He further said that there were issues that his office would need to look into to enable him make an informed decision regarding the trial of the juveniles, pointing out,  however, that it was not within his powers to vary the court order which remanded the minors in prison custodies.  
The statement read, “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January.
“I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case-file to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, tomorrow, Saturday, November 2, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (to an earlier date).”
The police had on Friday, arraigned 72 persons including minors, before the Federal High Court in Abuja for participating in the #EndBadGovernance Protest across the country.  
Four minors who were cited as defendants in the case collapsed before the charge could be read to them in court, a development that prompted nationwide condemnation as well as their exclusion from the trial.
The AGF’s intervention may not be unconnected with widespread condemnation of the trial of the juveniles.