Nigerian Court Dismisses Treason Charges Against 119 #EndBadGovernance Protesters

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed treason charges against 119 individuals detained since August for their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest. Presiding Judge Obiora Egwuatu struck down the charges after M.D. Abubakar, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), submitted an application to take over and discontinue the case. The AGF’s intervention comes amid growing scrutiny over the treatment of detainees, including malnourished minors who had been held in facilities designated for adults.

The detainees, initially held at Kuje Prison, faced harsh conditions and, following their rejection there, were transferred to a facility under the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team in Abuja’s Apo district. Justice Egwuatu had previously granted bail to 24 minors involved in the protests, though about 20 of them reportedly required hospitalization due to severe malnourishment.

In response to public outcry, President Bola Tinubu recently ordered the release of these underage detainees. Minister of Information Mohammed Idris announced the president’s directive at an emergency press briefing, signaling the administration’s acknowledgment of national and international pressure.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to oversee an official handover, which will transfer custody of the affected minors to their respective state governors in the northern region. In a related statement, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Police Force, confirmed that investigations into allegations of the detainees’ malnourishment were underway.