Minor Collapses During EndBadGovernance Trial in Abuja

Minor Collapses During EndBadGovernance Trial in Federal High Court Abuja

iexclusivenews – A minor protester, merely 15 years old, dramatically collapsed in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, bringing an abrupt halt to a high-profile trial involving 76 defendants arrested during the recent EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.

The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the treatment of young activists in the Nigerian justice system.

The courtroom fell into chaos when the minor defendant, visibly frail after reportedly spending over 80 days in police custody, fainted just as Justice Obiora Egwuatu was preparing to read the charges. Fellow defendants, most of them minors themselves, broke down in tears as lawyers present rushed to assist their collapsed peer to the court’s clinic.

The Nigerian Police Force has leveled a 10-count charge against the defendants, including the serious allegation of treason, under case number FCH/ABJ/CS/503/2024. According to court documents, the charges stem from protests that occurred between July 31 and August 4 in both Abuja and Kano metropolis.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, representing the defendants, revealed the troubling detail that these minor individuals have been held in police custody for more than 80 days. This extended detention period has raised significant concerns among human rights organizations and legal experts about the treatment of juvenile protesters within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

The prosecution, led by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, alleges that the defendants, along with others still at large, conspired to commit felony with the intention of destabilizing Nigeria. These charges fall under Section 96 of the Penal Code, with punishment provisions outlined in Section 97 of the same code.

The dramatic courtroom incident has highlighted several critical issues:

1. The detention conditions of young protesters

2. The practice of holding minors in extended police custody

3. The prosecution’s approach to handling youth involvement in political protests

4. The potential impact of such proceedings on Nigeria’s democratic expression

Legal experts observing the case have expressed concern about the severity of the charges, particularly given the age of many defendants. The collapse of the teenage protester has brought additional scrutiny to the physical and psychological toll of extended detention on juvenile defendants.

Justice Egwuatu was forced to temporarily suspend proceedings and retreat to his chambers following the medical emergency. This unexpected development has added another layer of complexity to an already sensitive case that touches on fundamental questions about youth activism, civil rights, and the boundaries of political protest in Nigeria.

The case continues to draw significant attention from both domestic and international observers, with many watching closely to see how the Nigerian judiciary will balance national security concerns with the rights of teenage protesters.