BREAKING: FG Hands Over Malnourished Minors Detained To Governors
Following their discharge by the Federal High Court in Abuja, 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters, comprising both minors and adults, have arrived at the Presidential Villa for an official reception.
Justice Obiora Egwatu had struck out the case against the protesters after a request from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, led by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, received the protesters on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. Subsequently, they will be handed over to their respective state governors – Uba Sani of Kaduna and Abba Yusuf of Kano.
Among those present at the State House Auditorium are the Ministers of Education, Tunji Alausa; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda; and Environment, Balarabe Lawal.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, and Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement Northwest, Abdullahi Yakasai, are also in attendance.
Additionally, Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, are present to mark this event.
Ibom Focus reported on Monday night that Shettima would preside over an elaborate handover ceremony to transfer custody of the malnourished minors detained over #EndBadGovernance protests to their respective state governors from the northern region.
The move came three months after the children were taken into custody under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Naija News House learnt on Monday night that the handover was scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
The newspaper earlier on Monday night reported that the detainees would be released at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
It was exclusively reported that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had completed the necessary paperwork to release all those detained over #EndBadGovernance protests, including minors charged with treason and facing the death penalty.
Earlier on Monday, President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the underage children arraigned before an Abuja Federal High Court on Friday, November 1, following national and international outrage and condemnation.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the development to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
“The Vice President is to receive them after they leave court tomorrow (Tuesday) and hand each everyone of them back to their state governors from the north at an ‘elaborate’ ceremony,” a source in the Presidency said.
“The scandal following the appearance of and charges filed against the malnourished children last week became an international scandal for the Tinubu regime,” the source added.
Ibom Focus had reported that following their rejection at Kuje Prison, the malnourished minors were detained by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in a facility meant for adults at the Intelligence Response Team unit in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory.
