By Seyi Babalola
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the Federal Government to dismiss the charges against 101 #EndBadGovernance demonstrators.
The demand stems from President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to release the minors arrested and facing prosecution for their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Falana stated in a statement that withdrawing the case against the minors was insufficient, and that the remaining 101 protestors’ charges should also be withdrawn.
The statement partly read, “In view of the directive of President Bola Tinubu that the treason charge against the malnourished children be withdrawn, it is hoped that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN will formally discontinue the frivolous charge by filing a nolle prosequi application at the Federal High Court.
“The Attorney-general of the Federation should also discontinue the charge pending against the remaining 101 protesters as there is no scintilla of evidence to support the charge of treason arising from the #endbadgovernance protests that took place in several states last August.
“However, in a desperate bid to prove the grave charge of treason against the 130 defendants, including 29 minors and thereby expose the Federal Government of Nigeria to unprecedented ridicule, the Police Prosecutor had set out to tender 76 Russian flags, two fire extinguishers, two prepaid meters, letters of arrest and statements of the suspects at the trial court.”
