Falana Threatens Lawsuit If Freed Minor Protesters Don’t Go To School

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has charged the Federal Authorities to reintegrate and ship all minors arrested in the course of the #EndBadGovernance protests to high school.

He vowed to take the Federal Authorities to courtroom if the minors weren’t despatched to high school, insisting that the withdrawal of the case was not sufficient.

#Endbadgovernance Protest: Arrest, Detention, Trial Of Minors Unacceptable – AYCF

Falana made the decision whereas reviewing a guide titled: “Judiciary Terrorism” by Richard Akinnola in Abuja on Tuesday.

The authorized luminary stated that the federal government was too embarrassed to deliver one other set of people, together with 29 minors, to courtroom after Friday’s public outcry.

He stated, “Simply this morning earlier than this programme commenced, I used to be within the courts in Abuja, right here, the place 119 Nigerians, together with 29 minors, had been delivered to courtroom. However the authorities was so ashamed that it couldn’t take them to the courtroom, in contrast to final week.

“The federal government got here to the courtroom this morning to withdraw the frivolous prices. So, the younger folks have been freed.

“However as I did say to the courtroom, it’s not sufficient to terminate this trial. These younger folks, who ordinarily ought to have been in class in the course of the protests, should be rehabilitated by the federal government. And we’re going to be certain that they’re rehabilitated and despatched to high school.

“If the federal government fails, we’re going to courtroom to sue the federal government as a result of it’s the duty of the federal government, by advantage of the Youngster’s Rights legislation, which has been adopted and enacted into legislation by all of the states of the Federation. Part 15 of that legislation gives that each baby in Nigeria shall be given free and obligatory schooling from main to secondary faculty. “

In his remarks, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, stated the worst interval within the nation’s historical past was over, and urged residents to stay united.

Bishop Kukah famous that many points come up within the nation as a result of many voters don’t perceive what it means to be with no nation and inspired Nigerians to have a look at locations like Gaza and Lebanon and cease turning in opposition to each other.

Kukah stated, “We would assume, and I believe we’re going to assume, that the worst occasions in our historical past are over. However allow us to stay eternally collectively as a result of what we have now and what we maintain is a treasure.

“This can be a heck of a rustic, and it’s an awesome nation. Folks have laid down their lives for this nation. I used to say to Nigerians, you understand, we’re simply joking as a result of we don’t know what it’s to be with no nation.

“What did the folks of Gaza do? What did the folks of Lebanon do? What did the folks of Valencia do? We’re listening to tales of earthquakes and unbelievable issues taking place which might be sweeping the lives of tons of of 1000’s of individuals each day.

“However in Nigeria, it’s us who’re collectively turning the knife on ourselves. So I believe that going ahead, a very powerful factor for you as a Christian is to develop the spirit of forgiveness, and that nothing will occur that’s outdoors the boundary of the divine will of God.”

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who was represented by Owei Lakemfa on the occasion, lamented that after 32 years of civil rule, the nation’s judicial system nonetheless has army parasites in its blood and system.

He stated, “When the (President Muhammadu) Buhari administration in 2019 was unsure it might management the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, it obtained the Code of Conduct Tribunal to accuse him of alleged false asset declaration. That manner, it removed the CJN. It was not till November 2024 that he was discharged and acquitted.”

In response to Odinkalu’s remark, former Chief of Defence Workers, Gen Fortunate Irabor (retd) stated the army shouldn’t be painted within the adverse as a result of few personnel misused their powers.

He stated nobody is taught the best way to plot a coup or abuse energy within the army.

Irabor stated, “While you speak about army terrorism, the connotation to the general public is that the army, as we have now it within the Nigerian army, is able to partaking in ignoble acts. There are folks, together with civilians, who misuse energy. So when energy is misused, it doesn’t indicate, similar to we even have within the judiciary, it’s not the broad brush of the judiciary that must be painted within the adverse.

“Somewhat, it must be that people throughout the judiciary should be identified, within the hope that it’ll deal with points that must do with the judiciary and justice service.

“So for me, whereas thanking all the great work that lots of you may have performed nice work prior to now to make sure that we have now democracy, and as soon as we be certain that by no means once more shall we have now the type of ignoble occurrences which have led to the writing of this guide, involving some members of the army, that the army stays an establishment, an institution for the Nigerian folks. It’s not the army as an institution that engages in abnormalities.”

“There may be nowhere in our coaching, in our curriculum, that you’ll be taught the best way to conduct coups, no or the best way to misuse energy. It doesn’t exist.”