By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu on Monday ordered the immediate release of the minors arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja last week.
For the past few days, the government has been lambasted for the arraignment of the minors, who looked malnourished when they appeared in court.
They had been in police custody after they were apprehended in August during a protest organised to kick against bad governance in the country.
They were accused of planning to remove Mr Tinubu from office and waving Russian flags during the demonstrations.
Apparently worried about the global embarrassment the situation has caused, Mr Tinubu asked the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to immediately release the minor and be handed over to their families.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed the Attorney General of the Federation to do everything possible to ensure the immediate release of minors detained by the Nigeria Police in connection with the recent protests without prejudice to whatever legal processes are ongoing.
“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has also been directed to ensure the safe return of all the minors to their families while an investigation has been opened into the circumstances leading to their prolonged detention,” a statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated.
Adedapo Adesanya