President Bola Tinubu has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to ensure the immediate release from custody all minors arrested over #EndBadGovernance protest in some parts of the country.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this to newsmen on Monday after meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, said the order was without prejudice to legal issues being pursued on the matter.
Idris also hinted that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had been mandated by the President to also ensure the smooth reunion of all the minors with their family members.
The Minister further stated that President Tinubu ordered thorough investigation of the incidents that led to the arrest of the minors and any security agent found culpable will be punished.
Idris said: “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.
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“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
The directive follows an uproar over the trial of at least 76 people, including 30 children, who were arraigned on Friday and charged with 10 felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny.
The minors ranged from 14 to 17 years old.
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