Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, has asked the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile of the 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters who were arraigned by the police for treason.
Not fewer than four of the underage accused slumped in court on Friday due to malnutrition, exhaustion and poor health following their detention since last August.
Fagbemi disclosed this in a statement on Friday, after the protesters were arraigned and later granted N10 million bail each and a surety in like sum each and the matter was adjourned till January 2025.
Fagbemi’s statement read: “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbadgovernance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).”