The former governor of Anambra state and the 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has called on various authorities to do proper investigation of the underage Endbadgovernance protesters who were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja Court yesterday. 76 defendants, of which 26 were between 14 and 17 years of age, looking unkempt and malnourished, and ill-treated were arrested at the August 1st protest where Nigerians citizens intended to voice out their displeasure at the hardship hitting the country under the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, had alleged that the defendants, between July 31 and August 5, conspired with a 70-year-old British national, Andrew Martin Wayne, to destabilise Nigeria and cause breakdown of law and order and calling for a military takeover of government. 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, in a sudden turn of events, four of the children suddenly collapsed and were rushed out of the courtroom, forcing the presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu to temporarily suspend proceedings. The judge later resumed proceedings after the suspects were moved to the court’s medical clinic for attention. Obi condemned the action of human indignity against the malnourished protesters and called on relevant authorities to investigate further. In his words: “The footage reveals minors, some so weak that they could barely stand, others fainting from sheer exhaustion and lack of nourishment. These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved—a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation. From their look, they were poorly handled despite being in the custody of the federal government of Nigeria. “The offense being alleged against these suspects, including minors, is protesting against bad governance that was directly affecting their livelihood and which our constitution under a democratic dispensation guarantees them. “Curiously, most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution standing as champions of good governance while in opposition. Moreover, our status presumes that suspects deserve some dignity, even in a correctional home as human beings. The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected. “May I appreciate the presiding lordship for halting the trial and saving the country further embarrassment it would have been to the World as a democratic nation? 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.” He added.
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