The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is calling on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, to ensure the release of detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, including 32 minors suffering from malnutrition. SERAP argues that these individuals were detained solely for exercising their rights peacefully, yet they now languish in detention without proper care or access to basic necessities.
In a letter dated November 2, 2024, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and obtained by PUNCH Online, the group decried the treatment of the protesters, particularly the children. They pointed out that continued detention of individuals for voicing discontent against the government sets a dangerous precedent, deterring others from standing up for their rights. SERAP warned that failure to act within 48 hours could lead to legal consequences for the government.
SERAP’s appeal to Tinubu isn’t just a plea for the protesters; it’s also an indictment of Nigeria’s prison conditions, which remain notoriously overcrowded and under-resourced. The organisation criticized the government for allegedly using the criminal justice system as a tool to silence dissent, calling this a blatant violation of human rights.
According to SERAP, detaining children merely for peaceful protest not only disregards their right to freedom of expression but also violates their rights to health, education, and safety.
The letter, which was also addressed to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, urged Tinubu to ensure a thorough investigation into the alleged human rights abuses, hold those responsible accountable, and secure immediate medical attention for the detained children. SERAP underscored that keeping children in detention for expressing their views hardly aligns with the idea of acting in the “best interests of the child,” as enshrined in both national and international laws.
SERAP’s concern is not unfounded. Just last week, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, charged 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters with ten counts, including “incitement to mutiny” and “treason,” after they allegedly called for the military to intervene in government affairs. Despite the severity of these charges, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja later granted the defendants bail, setting a total sum of ₦760 million with stringent surety requirements.
Attorney-General Fagbemi appears to be leaning toward leniency for the minors. Late on Friday, he announced his intention to take over the case from the Inspector-General, requesting the Nigeria Police to transfer all related files to his office. Fagbemi suggested that he would review the charges and has already moved to dismiss cases against the detained children. He also stated that he has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to expedite an earlier hearing date, to ensure justice is served.
SERAP’s call highlights the troubling state of human rights in Nigeria, especially for those who dare to challenge the status quo. Detaining minors and others solely for peacefully protesting raises critical questions about the country’s commitment to democracy and freedom of expression. As pressure mounts, all eyes are on the Tinubu administration to see whether it will prioritize human rights or continue down a path that many see as increasingly oppressive.
