The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said his administration is saddened by the trial of minors in a Federal Capital Territory High Court, on treason charges by the Nigeria Police.
Abba Yusuf said he was made to know that some of the minors on treason trial for participating in the August hunger protest were from Kano.
In a statement on Friday night, on his X handle, Governor Yusuf promised that his Commissioner of Justice would work to secure the minors and return them to the state.
“My attention has been drawn to the appearance of teenagers (some believed to be from Kano) in court today (Friday) in Abuja.
“The Commissioner of Justice has been instructed to act immediately on the issue. We shall do everything possible to get them back to Kano, in sha Allah,” Governor Yusuf said.
Naija News reported that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has directed the Nigeria Police to submit the prosecution file of the minors to his office.
The statement from Fagbemi on Friday night read, “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the end bad governance violent protest in court for various offences, including treason.
“My office will need to look into some issues regarding the matter so that I can make 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 case file to my office and hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.
“I have also directed the DPPF to immediately set machinery in motion for the court’s consideration of moving the adjournment date forward (to an earlier date).”