Unlawful Arrest, Prosecution Of Minors For Treason By Nígerian Authorities, Unconscionable and Reprehensible -- CLO
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) condemns the arrest, detention, and prosecution of 32 minors by Nigerian authorities, labeling it a severe violation of human rights and civil liberties, which reportedly lowers Nigeria’s standing in the global human rights index.
...A big Dent on Nígeria's global image and
discent to primitive authoritarianism.
The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, says that the arrest, detention and prosecution of 32 minors by the Nígerian authorities, last week, has marked Nigeria as an absolute violator of human rights, civil liberties and human dignity and has, therefore, ranked the country poorer in global human rights index.
According to the CLO, the "minors alongside other 44 treasonable felony suspects were arrested by security operatives across the country including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Gwombe, Kaduna, Jos, Plataeu, Katsina and Kano states in the wake of the national protest by Nígerians against Presídent Bola Tinubu over bad governance in Africa's largest but repressive democracy between August 1 and 10, 2024."
However, "fgour of the hungry and malnourished suspects who had been detained under torturous and inhuman conditions without adequate feeding for three months were, last week, charged before Justice Obiora Egwunatu of the Federal High Court Division, Abúja, for allegedly calling for military takeover of government due to hunger, poverty and hardship in the country.
"Four of the 32 -- Usman Suraji, Abdul Ganiu, Umar Yunusa and Musa Isiaku, collapsed on the floor of Justice Egwunatu's court, forcinng the Judge to flee his court as the kids were rushed to a clinic for urgent medical attention.
"The under aged suspects were, thereafter, ordered to be remanded at the Borstal Centre, Gwagwalada, while those of 18 years and above were taken to Kuje prisons, both in Abuja.
"CLO condemns in an unspeakable terms, the arrest, detention, trial and starvation of the 76 and other Nígerians who protested against the man made hardship, sufferings and poverty in Nigeria because protest, the world over, is a fundamental right of the citizens.
"We also condemn Justice Egwunatu's refusal to acquit and discharge the citizens who are being tried under laughable treasonable offences as requested by the defence counsel, Barr. Marshall Abubakar. "The treatment of the 76 grossly infringes on their rights, amounts to crime against humanity and violates both domestic and international human rights instruments namely our national laws, African Charter and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.
"This further, deteriorates the embarrassing human rights record of Nígeria. Only recently, Nigeria lost her bid to become a member state of the UN Human Rights Council when she scored only three votes to come behind Burundi -- 168, Ghana -- 179, Cote d'Ivoire -- 181 and Malawi -- 182 votes.
"A few months ago, the offices of the Nígeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, were invaded by security operatives without mandating legal documents.
"Besides, the Presídent of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was arrested by security agents at the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to attend an international congress and detained without genuine reasons.
All these are ominous signs of Nígeria's dissent to civilian authoritarianism as was the case in Uganda under Idi Amin Dada, Macia Nguema of Equitorial Guinea, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Charles Tailor of Liberia and Mobutu Sese Sekou of Congo DR among others.
"It's regrettable that Presídent Tinubu who was in the trenches against military dictatorship, General Olusegun Obasanjo's, (mtd, and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's presidencies is today arresting, detaining and prosecuting minors who protested against his government over bad governance, human rights abuses and corruption.
"CLO cautions that no ruler has a right to oppress and maltreat his or her country men and women in this fashion for condemning the wickedness of his or her regime.
"We call on the international community to take note of Nígeria's heinous human rights abuses in order to take commensurate actions against her state actors accordingly.
"Similarly, CLO calls on all human rights groups in Nígeria, the Church, Mosques, Nigeria Bar Association, the Media among others to rise up to the challenge and help rescue Nígeria and Nígerians from this mess and tilt to absolute civilia8⁸8
not the iuio9 dictatorship."
Sgned
Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike,
Executive Director.
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