Malnourished Minor Detained for #EndBadGovernance Protests Slumps in Courtroom

One of the 76 detainees arrested for alleged attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu during the #EndBadGovernance protests slumped at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The 76 detainees, 32 of them being minors, were to be arraigned on Friday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who allegedly fled the courtroom after one of them slumped and others unable to stand on their feet due to starvation in prison.

As contained in a clip posted on X by an eyewitness present in the courtroom, the minors were looking malnourished.

In the 37-second revealing clip, one of the minors is seen trying to resuscitate one of the protesters who collapsed while others were standing in the dock.

It will be recalled on August 24, 2024, Justice Emeka Nwite granted an ex-parte motion filed FHC/ABJ/CS/1154/2024 to the prosecutors of the Nigeria Police Force to keep the protesters in custody for 60 days to conclude their “investigation”.

Before the detainee’s scheduled arraignment on Friday, the Network of Abuja Left Groups on Thursday reportedly called for their immediate release to no avail.

Related News: Tinubu’s Regime Arraigns 10 #EndBadGovernance Protesters For Treason

The 76 detainees, including 32 minors, were locked up across several divisions of the NPF, including the Intelligence Response Team unit.

The cause of their arrest remains an alleged attempt to overthrow the government under President Tinubu, an allegation construed to be in violation of Sections 2(1) and (3), 24 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022; Sections 41 and 42 of the Criminal Code Act; Sections 410, 411, 412 Penal Code Act and Section 4 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and other enabling statutes.

Contrarily, the only major cause of the 10-day nationwide protests was the failing economic and security policies of President Tinubu, who assumed the office of Presidency with little to no vote of confidence.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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