Drop treason charges against 101 protesters, Falana tells Tinubu

Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Monday, called on the Federal Government to discontinue the charges against 101 protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests, citing a lack of evidence to support the treason charges.

This demand comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to release minors arrested and facing prosecution over their alleged involvement in the protests.

Falana, in a press statement, emphasized that dropping the charges against the minors was not enough, stating, “In view of the directive of President Bola Tinubu that the treason charge against the malnourished children be withdrawn, it is hoped that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN will formally discontinue the frivolous charge by filing a nolle prosequi application at the Federal High Court.”

He further argued that the Attorney-General should discontinue the charges pending against the remaining 101 protesters, as there was no evidence to support the treason charges arising from the protests that took place in several states last August.

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He noted, “The Attorney-general of the Federation should also discontinue the charge pending against the remaining 101 protesters as there is no scintilla of evidence to support the charge of treason arising from the #endbadgovernance protests that took place in several states last August.

“However, in a desperate bid to prove the grave charge of treason against the 130 defendants including 29 minors and thereby expose the Federal Government of Nigeria to unprecedented ridicule, the Police Prosecutor had set out to tender 76 Russian flags, two fire extinguishers, two prepaid meters, letters of arrest and statements of the suspects at the trial court.”

The protests, which occurred in various locations including Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states, led to the arrest of 130 people, including 29 minors. The defendants were accused of treason, among other charges, and some of them appeared in court looking gaunt and poorly fed, with some collapsing during the proceedings.

The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, had granted N10 million bail to the 72 minors who were arraigned.

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