Why #EndBadGovernance Protest Minors Can Be Charged To Court — Police

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Friday stated that children over the age of seven can face legal charges in court.

Naija News reports that this clarification came as the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, addressed inquiries about the recent arraignment of minor protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance movement at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adejobi explained that, under Nigerian law, only children under seven are exempt from criminal liability. He emphasized that all those arraigned are at least 13 years old.

He said, “Those exempt from criminal liability under the law are those below seven. Once you are above seven, you can be charged to court. The only consideration is the specific procedures required. None of them is younger than seven. The youngest is around 13.”

He noted that age does not preclude a 13-year-old from being charged and added that charges were filed under the Children and Young Persons Act.

He described the accused as individuals who, during the #EndBadGovernance protests, turned violent and displayed foreign flags, actions deemed criminally liable by law.

Meanwhile, Rimazonte Ezekiel, the Federal Government’s counsel, argued that some of the 76 arraigned individuals are adults, even claiming that some are married with their wives present in court alongside their parents.

Following the hearing, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to the 76 protesters, setting bail at N10 million per person, totaling N760 million. The bail conditions include two sureties per defendant: one a Level 15 civil servant, and the other the defendant’s parent. The sureties must provide appointment and promotion letters, identification, verified addresses, passport photos, and surrender their international passports, along with an affidavit of means.

Justice Egwuatu stated, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties in like sum. One of them must be a Level 15 civil servant, and the other a parent of the defendant.”