Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to offer an official apology and provide compensation to the minors who were involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests. In an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, Okonkwo expressed his outrage over the treatment of the children who were arrested and arraigned in connection with the nationwide demonstrations earlier this month.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, drew attention to widespread issues of corruption and poor governance. While many adults took part in the protests, a number of minors were among those arrested, prompting public outcry. News reports indicate that some of these minors were later arraigned in court alongside adult protesters, which ignited concerns over the legality and fairness of the proceedings.
The situation took a significant turn on Monday when President Tinubu directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to withdraw all charges against the minors. The decision came after mounting pressure from various advocacy groups and public figures, who argued that the children’s involvement in the protests should not result in criminal charges. In a subsequent ruling on Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the case against 119 individuals who had been accused of participating in the protest, including the minors.
Following the legal development, the minors were released and later hosted by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja. This gesture was seen as a move to further ease tensions surrounding the case and demonstrate a commitment to addressing the controversy. Despite this, Okonkwo, who is known for his outspoken political stance, believes that more needs to be done to rectify the situation.
“The president has to apologise to those children and compensate them adequately,” Okonkwo said, emphasizing that the legal proceedings against the minors were unjust from the start. “It was very wrong. The charges were wrong. The process of detaining them was wrong. The process of arraigning them was wrong.” Okonkwo added that the minors were treated harshly throughout the ordeal, suffering both physically and emotionally. He decried the conditions under which the minors were held, noting that they were “malnourished, maltreated, and mistreated” during their detention.
The Labour Party chieftain’s comments reflect a broader concern over the treatment of minors in the justice system. Okonkwo specifically directed blame at the police, suggesting that the force’s actions were a violation of the minors’ rights. “The police should be apologising to them,” he said. His statement calls attention to what many see as a growing trend of harsh crackdowns on peaceful protesters, particularly among the youth.
The arrest and arraignment of minors during a peaceful protest raised questions about the boundaries of lawful protest and the responsibilities of law enforcement. Many human rights groups have condemned the use of force against young individuals who were merely expressing their dissatisfaction with the state of governance in the country.
Peace OdekunleNovember 6, 20242 Mins read
