Oil marketers, on Friday, revealed that the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was between N1,015 and N1,028/litre depending on the quantity being purchased.

Based on this, the dealers vowed to import the commodity and sell it below the Dangote refinery price as well as the price being sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Data released by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on Thursday showed that the landing cost of petrol was N978.01/litre as of October 31, 2024.

It stated that the landing cost of diesel was N1,069.97/litre, while that of aviation fuel was put at N1,119.67/litre. 

The landing cost of these white products is the unit price of the imported commodities on landing on Nigeria’s shores.

Since the Dangote refinery commenced the release of refined petroleum products domestically, it had refused to announce the cost of the commodity despite several demands for the price.

However, a major marketer, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, confirmed that the cost of petrol from the Dangote refinery was higher than that of imported PMS.

According to the official, the refinery currently sells to oil marketers making bulk purchase at N1,015/litre and small buyers at N1,028/litre.

The major marketer also disclosed that three cargoes carrying petroleum products recently arrived and had been discharged at seaports along the nation’s borders.

“Dangote is selling to bulk buyers at N1,015/litre, but to marketers who are not buying in bulk, the refinery is selling at N1,028/litre.

“But imported PMS is cheaper than the cost of Dangote’ own, and that is why he is doing all he can to ensure that the government stops the importation of fuel,” the dealer stated.

Commenting on the development, marketers under the aegis of the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria vowed that they would sell imported petrol below the price offered by the Dangote refinery.

The association said its PMS would also be cheaper than that of the NNPCL.

The PETROAN Publicity Secretary, Dr Joseph Obele, however, told Saturday PUNCH that the price of Dangote PMS might be higher because the refinery was still producing with the imported crude it bought at a premium.

He said the association had struck deals with some international fuel suppliers to import PMS at a good price, adding that the product would arrive in Nigeria at a price around N800/litre.

“PETROAN is an association, but we have incorporated our limited liability company called PETROAN Limited. We have got the licence from the Corporate Affairs Commission, and we have applied to the NMDPRA to licence us and give us authority to import. So, as we get that authority to import, I think we will import from the best market.

“And it is good also for the general public to understand that the landing costs in all the nations are not the same. PETROAN has got a partner from the international market, that the product will arrive here at close to N800/litre. So, since PETROAN has the best value for Nigerian citizens, we are calling on the regulatory agency to release our authority to import in no distant time so our first stock will come in.

“And we assure you that PETROAN will sell far less than Dangote. It will sell at prices far less than NNPC. Right now, NNPC is selling to us at N1,040/litre. PETROAN will not sell like that, because we have negotiated. And all our partners and foreign counterparts are on standby to make sure we give Nigerians the best value,” Obele said.

The associations spokesperson stated that he would not be able to disclose the exact quantity to be imported, but stressed that PMS imported by PETROAN would be cheaper.

Obele explained that Dangote was only selling to NNPC directly, while NNPC sold to marketers.

“I am telling you that that the position of NNPC as a middleman is still active till tomorrow. NNPC has refused to announce how much Dangote is giving. Dangote has also refused to announce how much he is selling to NNPC. So, I think there is an agreement that they don’t announce it.

“All we know is how much NNPC is selling it to us. However, the transaction between the two is not in the public domain. NNPC has refused to mention it. And the general public has said, please make these things open,” he said.

Speaking on the landing cost of N978/litre, he emphasised that the landing cost differs from country to country.

“N978 to N1,000, that’s the landing cost. It was about N1,100 as of last month. But because of the drop in the selling price of crude oil in the international market, PMS has witnessed a downward review in the international market too. So, I think we should also witness a downward review,“ he said.

When reminded that the NNPC just jerked up its price, Obele responded, “No, the issue we have is that the only functional refinery we have is the Dangote refinery. And Dangote has announced to everyone who wants to hear that the crude oil stock he is still working on was the one he bought from the international market; that the naira-for-crude stock, he has not started refining that. So, we don’t expect a downward review from someone who bought old stock when crude oil was selling for $80 and $78 per barrel.

“So, now that it has dropped to $72, we are not expecting to review the price automatically. Because you can put it to us that it is still trading with the old stock. But recently, the price of crude oil has dropped. We hope that whoever is buying the new stock of this new trade should review the price downward. But if what Dangote has used to refine the stock available is the old stock got when crude oil was still selling at $80 per barrel, we don’t expect him to review downward.

“Until the refinery commences production with the stock it just received last week in naira, that’s when people can criticise it. But at the moment, I think the selling rate reflects the former cost of crude oil.”

Meanwhile, the National Assistant Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Yakubu Suleiman, also stated that the cost of Dangote petrol was higher than the imported commodity at the moment.

Suleiman, speaking in an interview with Arise TV, on Friday, stated that the price of fuel from Dangote refinery was higher than the cost of commodities imported.

According to him, the price of petrol at Dangote refinery was set at around N995 and higher than other sources.

Suleiman also accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote refinery, Aliko Dangote, of sidelining key stakeholders in its fuel supply strategy, claiming that limited engagement with independent marketers had hampered their ability to lift petrol from the facility.

When contacted, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Tony Chiejina, said the figures being bandied were not correct.

He described reports on Dangote petrol price as fake news, wondering where they emanated from.

“This is fake news. People are just posting what they like,“ he said.

Chiejina, however, declined to give the actual price.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday grilled controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over his claim that he bribed some officials of the commission with the sum of N15m.

Bobrisky was heard in a viral audio released by activist, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that some yet-to-be-identified EFCC officials collected the said amount (N15m) from him to drop the money laundering charges against him (Bobrisky).

A source in the anti-graft commission disclosed that Bobrisky’s interrogation began immediately after he was moved to Abuja.

“He was interrogated for hours upon his arrival here. He is still with us as I speak (8:30pm),” the source in the commission added. 

The anti-graft body had earlier disclosed that the cross-dresser was flown to Abuja over his failure to honour its invitations.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this on Friday morning, adding that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if his allegations against the anti-corruption agency were false.

“Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,” Oyewale added.

Okuneye’s invitation by the commission reportedly followed a voice recording shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.

However, the EFCC denied the allegation, stating that the case was legally dismissed and set up a panel to investigate the matter further.

On Thursday night, Bobrisky, while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom, was removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.

According to sources in the commission, Bobrisky did not honour invitations by the commission for him to substantiate his claims, hence the reason for his arrest.

However, a top source in the commission said on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC.

The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide.

“Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “

Another source said he had been on the watch list of the commission and other security agencies hence it was impossible for him to escape out of the country.

The source said, “He should know that he cannot sneak out of the country when he has made that kind of allegations against not only our commission but others. He should know we would get him and that it was a matter of time.”

At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.

Meanwhile, the EFCC’s spokesperson stated that Bobrisky failed to respond to multiple summonses from both the commission and the House of Representatives concerning his claims of having paid an N15m bribe to the EFCC to dismiss money laundering charges against him.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Oyewale said, “Those that are accusing the EFCC of arresting Bobrisky are not aware of the developments concerning his matter. He alleged that he bribed EFCC officers.

“It is public knowledge that he made that allegation and we have invited him to come and unravel whoever is involved in the matter. He was also invited by the House of Representatives committee for the public hearing. He neither responded to us nor made himself available to the House of Reps.

“We arrested him because he did not honour our invitation. Once he tells us who collected money from him, we will release him.”

Addressing the timing of Bobrisky’s arrest, which occurred when he was already aboard a London-bound plane, Oyewale simply said, “A suspect can be arrested anywhere.”

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, on Friday, warned critics against distorting the narrative of the crisis rocking the state, insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the investment of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Okocha disclosed this during a media parley with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Okocha who served as the Chief of Staff to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi from 2007 to 2015, stated that he feels embarrassed every time he listens to a radio analysis and hears the presenters dishing out a biased narrative.

He said, “I can tell you that the conversations going on around the state are skewed. They need to hear our side of the story. Some people are blaming us at the APC and even bringing in the FCT Minister for the crisis in Rivers. They are holding us in scorn. Naturally, I know what anybody will say is that he (Wike) has done eight years; why is he not allowing someone else to run his own? But that is not the narrative.

“Nobody makes an investment and throws it away; the business will fail. Governor Fubara is Wike’s political investment. I must have said this many times. This is because he lifted him from ground zero and put him where he is today. Fubara was never a politician; he was a civil servant.

“He was taken from a state of relative obscurity in his Local Government to a political crescendo, which is the position of governor in a state like Rivers. So, it is not a case of Wike suffocating anybody in Rivers; it is just a case of Governor Sim Fubara versus the same Governor Sim Fubara. He is the governor. In Ikwerre’s parlance, there is an adage that says ‘You are the man that holds the yam and the knife.'”

Continuing, Okocha also blamed the governor for spurning the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the court order directing him to re-present the 2024 budget before the Martins Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly.

He said that rather than following the agreed resolution, Fubara allowed his loyalists to go loose by threatening and attempting to blackmail the president.

“There was an intervention by Mr President through an eight-point agenda. The president said the governor was wrong by presenting the budget to a four-member assembly over and above 27 others, and that he should go back and re-present it. Fubara accepted and told Mr President that being the first time he was meeting with him, whatever he said pertaining to Rivers, he would abide by.

“He also made a request, and the president asked him to state it. The request was that those who worked with him from his side should not be vilified or punished. The president assured him that nothing of the sort would happen, as the meeting was for reconciliation. After that, all manner of narratives arose. Some said he signed under duress; others claimed he was ambushed. The fifth columnists were also on the prowl for pecuniary interests.

“But did he implement the decision of Mr President and the judgment of the court to re-present the budget to the House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule? Now, some people are going about trying to skew the narrative that those who got the recent judgment are enemies of Rivers. But is it right for the governor to run a state without a budget? It is even dangerous for us as a state because you don’t have a limit for spending,” he warned.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, on Friday said the Federal Government is working to minimise fake condoms and other items in the Nigerian market.

He stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“There are things that should not be in our system that actors may find ways to compromise and those are the minority,” he said.

“Over the years, we have seen a reduction in those kinds of things making it. Somebody may hide in their room, create something that is substandard and get it into the market. That is what we are trying to the barest minimum.”

NAFDAC Raises Alarm

The minister’s assurance comes after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm on the circulation of an unregistered condom called Foula condoms.

NAFDAC in a statement on Thursday said the product, which is usually packed in 3s, was discovered in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital and in Zango, Kastina State.

NAFDAC said the discovery was made by the officials of the post-marketing Surveillance Directorate (PMS) while carrying out a Risk-Based Post Marketing Surveillance study on registered condoms in Nigeria.

“The condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labelling of the product is not in the English Language,” the statement read.

“Condoms are a proven effective barrier method that can be used as a dual-purpose method for both prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly.”

It stated that the illegal distribution or sale of unregistered condoms poses a risk as the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.

“The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for the prevention of unintended pregnancy, and protection against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. If condoms leak or break, they cannot offer adequate protection,” NAFDAC stated.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the case of the #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned in the Federal High Court Abuja on Friday.

The protesters, 75 in number between the ages of 12 and 15, were charged with 10 counts of terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny over their participation in the nationwide protest.

Their arraignment has since generated backlash at the Federal Government from civil society organisations and oppositions leaders, who condemned the detention and prosecution of minors. They asked the government to quickly look into the matter and resolve it.

In a statement on Friday night, the AGF admitted that he is aware of the case but said there are some issues his office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable him take an informed decision.

He said that it is not within his power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. He, however, noted that he has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to his office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) on Saturday.

The statemet reads, “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.

“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.

“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.

“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.

“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).”

Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to 67 of the 76 protesters that were arraigned to the tune of N10m each.

Those granted bail, who are below 15 years, are expected to present one surety who must be a civil servant.

The protesters who are mainly minors, looked malnourished as four of them were hurriedly rushed out of the courtroom as they couldn’t stand on their feet.

Looking very sickly, they wriggled in pain on the floor of the courtroom.

All seventy-six of them were arrested and detained during the August 1 to 10, nationwide protest in the country which was sparked by widespread economic hardship that led many Nigerians to take to the streets to express their grievances.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), has condemned the detention and prosecution of minors involved in the EndBadGovernance protest in the nation.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the senator described the detention as inhumane and unjust, urging the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the detention of the teenagers.

He also urged the NJC to examine the actions of the presiding judge in their case.

The minors were brought before an Abuja Federal High Court, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu presided on Friday.

Justice Egwuatu granted bail of ₦10 million to 72 defendants, including the “malnourished minors,” in connection with their alleged involvement in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.

He also mandated that each defendant secure two sureties in the same amount.

It is important to note that a significant number of Nigerians participated in protests against “bad governance” during the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which commenced on August 1 and concluded on August 10, 2024.

However, many of the demonstrators, including minors, were subsequently arrested for their participation in the protests.

But Senator Musa said, “I strongly condemn the unjust detention of minors following the #EndBadGovernance protests. It is deeply troubling that despite the hardships and challenges these young children have endured, there is a push to have them imprisoned rather than afforded compassion and understanding.

“Such actions are not only inhumane but also unjust. I also condemn the judicial stance advocating for the continued detention of these minors, which is entirely unacceptable and contrary to the principles of justice and fairness.

“I call upon the Inspector General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into this matter to ensure accountability and protect the rights of these young citizens.
This issue must be addressed urgently, and I will continue to stand with my constituents and all Nigerians in the pursuit of justice and good governance.”

Nigerians have expressed outrage over the arraignment of 76 suspects, including 32 minors, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.

Civil society groups and rights activists slammed the police and the government over the matter.

The defendants, who have been in detention for three months, were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja); as well as Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.

They were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police on 10 counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.

The nationwide protest against economic hardship and poor governance happened from August 1 to 10, with demonstrators calling for reduced governance costs, the reinstatement of petrol subsidy, food security, and greater fiscal discipline.

The protest turned violent in some states, leading to incidents of looting and vandalism.

Among the 76 defendants arraigned on Friday, 32 of them were minors between the ages of 14 and 17.

The minors, who looked unkempt and malnourished, were seen scrambling for water and biscuits in video clips that went viral on social media on Friday.

As proceedings commenced, the visibly unwell children were called to the dock to enter their pleas.

But in a sudden turn of events, four of the children suddenly collapsed and were rushed out of the courtroom, forcing the presiding judge to suspend the session until order was restored.

The minors wriggled in pain and made a screeching sound on the floor as both lawyers and prison officials hurriedly carried them up, holding their hands and legs. They were then taken out of the courtroom, as they couldn’t stand on their feet.

Watching with a bewildered look of pity and irritation, Justice Egwuatu abruptly rose and went into his chambers.

Upon his return, the prosecution counsel, Audu Garba, told the court that the matter was for arraignment.

He said, “My Lord the matter is fixed for arraignment. Some of the defendants are outside due to lack of space in the courtroom to accommodate all of them.”

The judge, however, insisted that space should be created for all of them, as he wanted all defendants inside the courtroom.

The prosecution proceeded to ask the court to strike out the names of the sick defendants and discharge them pending when they get well to be brought back to the court to answer to their charges.

The defense counsel, Marshall Abubakar, however, asked the court to discharge and acquit them.

He said, “The application is on the fact that the defendants are sick and malnourished. These boys are hungry and have not been fed for three days.”

The prosecution, however, objected to the defence counsel’s submission, insisting that the defendants, who had been detained since August when they were arrested, were well catered for in the police cell where they had been kept.

He, however, asked the court to grant the defendants bail.

The court, on the submission of the prosecution, discharged the four sick defendants – Umar Yunusa, Usman Suraju, Musa Isiyaku and Abdul Ganiu – pending when they get well.

The court, however, refused to acquit them.

Justice Egwuatu declared that until they meet their bail terms, defendants who are 18 years and above should be remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre while  the minors (18 years and below) be remanded in the Borstal Centre in Gwagwalada.

Nigerians condemned the undue detention and arraignment of the defendants, describing them as a violation of human rights and an indication of the government’s approach to civil dissent.

The charges brought against them read in part, “That between July 31, 2024, and August 4, 2024, at the Abuja FCT and Kano Metropolis, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony to wit: treason.”

Count two, “That within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria conspired together to commit felony to wit: inciting to mutiny, thereby committing an offence.

Count three, “That between July 31, 2024 and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen, with intent to destabilise Nigeria, levies war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the president, by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004”.

The FG also accused them of having the plan to destabilise Nigeria by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and by chanting, ‘Tinubu most go,’ ‘It is military we want’, while rioting and disturbing public peace.

Justice Egwuatu, however, granted the protesters bail in the total sum of N760m with two sureties in like sum.

The judge further held that one of the sureties must be a level 15 civil servant and the other a parent to the defendants.

He also ordered that the sureties make available to the court a means of identification, letter of last promotion, letter of appointment, means of Identification and a verified address.

Justice Egwuatu said, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties in like sum.

NBA, SANs decry rights abuse

Reacting, the Nigerian Bar Association said subjecting minors to such treatment not only violates domestic and international legal protections, but also paints Nigeria in a negative light on the global stage.

The National President of the NBA, Afam Osigwe, who stated this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said the inhumane treatment of the minors constituted a grave violation of their fundamental human rights.

Osigwe said, “This does not make us look good at all. It makes the credence of our correctional facilities and our pre-trial detention condition questionable and deplorable and portrays a negative image of us in the international community.

“Every effort must be made, either to release them (suspects) immediately on account of their long period of incarceration and be reunited with their families or if the Federal Government insists on trying them, they should be returned to the places where they were arrested, so that they will be close to their families and their families will be able to arrange for legal services for them and also be close to them and be able to follow the trial.

“It does not speak good of our criminal justice system that such children looking malnourished are being charged, showing that we have treated them poorly before their trial in court.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Isiaka Olagunju, condemned the arraignment.

He said the law permits children to be arraigned in a family court rather than a Federal High Court, adding that justice administration was clearly stated in the Child Rights Act.

According to him, keeping the children in detention for more than 48 hours and their eventual arraignment at a Federal High Court was a gross violation of the provision of the Act and the entire constitution.

He said, “This is entirely a breach of the Child Rights Act, which is a part of the laws guiding the federation, but if they are minors, that means they are below the age of 18. The Child Rights Act talks about justice administration and that the child must be arraigned in accordance with the provision of that law.

“I think there is a charge administration in that law, which specifies specific offences and procedures to arraign a child. To arraign a child at a Federal High Court is a serious breach of the constitution and the Child Rights Act. It is highly inappropriate. By the provision of the constitution, you can only be detained for a maximum of 48 hours.

“They cannot keep a minor in custody with adults. They should be kept in juvenile detention, not in a police station. There should be a specific detention for children and not with adults. So, what they are doing is very wrong. Section 204 of the Child Rights Act, Laws of Federation states, ‘No child shall be subjected to the criminal justice process or criminal sanctions, but a child alleged to have committed an act which would constitute a criminal offence if he were an adult shall be subjected only to the child justice system and processes set out in this Act.’”

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean, Faculty of Law at the Nile Universityof Nigeria, Abuja, Professor Shehu Zuru, argued that the charges against the protesters were wrong.

He said, “Those who were raising Russian flag, does that even amount to treason? What is treason by the way? This is an organised insurrection against constituted authority. It is an insurrection that has challenged the sovereignty of state. But you can’t compare that to civil disobedience. No!

“But where you have an organised mutiny or insurrection and it has clearly challenged the sovereignty of a state like the Boko Haram accompanied by hoisting of flags, then, that will amount to treason. Like those involved in the Boko Haram movement, of course, that is treasonable. But you can’t just pack people who are involved in an organised civil protest and say they have been involved in treasonable activity, not at all.”

Another lawyer, Festus Ogun, said it was “shameful” that Nigerian authorities charged “poor, homeless, malnourished and out-of-school children” to court for participating in #EndBadGovernance protest.

He argued that the persecution of children by the Federal Government was unacceptable and constituted a gross violation of human rights.

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, described the arrest and detention of the minors as a violation of their fundamental human rights.

“The Tinubu regime is making a mockery of our criminal justice system by parading minors in this manner. It reflects an unserious approach and tarnishes the community’s reputation,” he stated.

Effiong called for immediate action from the government, urging authorities to discontinue the charges against the minors and focus instead on rehabilitating them.

Atiku, Obi, senator slam Tinubu’s govt

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the detention and prosecution of the minors had exposed the inhuman nature of the Tinubu administration.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his media team in Abuja, lamented that the pitiable sight of the children in the courtroom was reminiscent of the infamous Nazi concentration camp.

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election also noted that it was an “utter violation” of Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act, which guarantees that no child should be subjected to physical, mental, or emotional injury as well as torture and inhumane punishment.

He said, “If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the sort of dehumanising conditions they had been subjected to and have been detained all this while.

“I find it reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies.

“Children who are the most affected by these policies have every right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by the constitution and the Child Rights Act. A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain.”

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also expressed dismay over the treatment of the minors.

“I would like to call on relevant authorities, especially the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, and the DSS, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to thoroughly investigate such inhuman treatment of minors to avert such incidents in the future,” Obi said.

The lawmaker representing Niger East (APC), Senator Sani Musa, called on the IG to investigate the inhumane detention and prosecution of the protesters.

Musa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, urged the NJC to probe the decision of the judge who presided over their case.

CDHR, Amnesty Intl, SERAP, NEF condemn detention

Also reacting, the President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Debo Adeniran, said it was unexplainable that a supposed progressive government could maltreat children in the way it had done.

Adeniran stated that it was cruel to arrest and detain the minors for days without trial, adding that the ill-treatment meted out to the children was condemnable.

He said, “The #EndBadGovernance, #FearlessOctober and other protests will be a child’s play if the government continues to stoke embers of violence inside the citizenry. A lot of people are angry with the government, and what the government should do is to persuade them to come up with schemes that will douse the tension.”

Amnesty International also condemned the continuous detention of the minors who were arrested in August for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August.

Amnesty, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), described the trial of the minors for treason as a “sham” and demanded the unconditional release of the defendants.

“The attempts to put the minors through a sham trial over alleged treason shows the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law. The authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally”, the statement read.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Take it Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said it was “dishonourable” for underage children to face such fate.

“The Federal Government is a disgrace, arraigning underage children for capital punishment for protest after starving them for months. See how malnourished and unkempt they looked. This is an egregious crime against humanity,” Sanyaolu said.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre appealed to Tinubu to end the prosecution of the minors by ordering their release of the children.

The organisation, in a statement by its Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, also urged international bodies to join in condemning the incident and pressuring the Nigerian government for an unconditional release.

Reacting via its X handle, the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project condemned the detention of the minors, calling on President Tinubu to immediately release them or face legal action.

“The Tinubu administration must unconditionally release the 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters and drop all charges of ‘treasonable felony’ against them, or face legal action. No one should ever be punished for the peaceful exercise of their human rights”, the post read.

A spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Abdulazeez Sulaiman, described the children as frail and fearful, representing a profound societal failure.

Sulaiman emphasised that accusing children of treason, a serious charge typically reserved for adults, was troubling and reflected “a disturbing distortion of legal and moral principles.”

He argued that children, inherently innocent and unable to grasp political complexities, should never be subjected to such grave accusations.

“Their detention, particularly in a politically charged atmosphere, raises serious concerns about potential abuse and neglect, violating their fundamental human rights,” he said.

He urged the international community to take action, calling for solidarity and a commitment to protect vulnerable individuals.

Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, has criticized the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration for detaining and prosecuting #EndBadGovernance protesters who are minors.

Recall that minors were on Friday arraigned by the Nigeria Police for alleged treason. The minors were said to have been arrested by Nigeria Police during the August hunger protest.

Four of the malnourished minors detained for three months over #EndBadGovernance protests slumped during an appearance in the courtroom.

Reacting in a statement to Naija News, Atiku described the video showing the moment the minors slumped as disturbing.

Atiku, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, said he finds it reprehensible that Tinubu who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh policies.

He said: “A disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a Federal High Court on the orders of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has been brought to my notice.

“The horrible scene reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp once again reflects the low premium the current government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.

“For emphasis, Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act guarantees dignity of the child.

“It states that, “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be ‐ (a) subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; (b) subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

“The children are being prosecuted for their alleged role in the #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place between August 1 and August 10, 2024. If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the sort of dehumanizing conditions they had been subjected to and have been detained all this while.

“I find it reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies.

“Children who are the most affected by these polices have every right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act. A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain.

“The disturbing condition under which the alleged accused children were brought to court projects the very justification for their participation in the protest in the first place.”