(JUST IN) NATIONWIDE PROTESTS: TEENAGE SUSPECTS BROUGHT FOR ARRAIGNMENT FAINT IN COURT
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A few suspects who had been brought before Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, by the Nigerian police for arraignment passed out.
The 75 suspects, who range in age from 12 to 15, are accused of ten counts of terrorism, attempted overthrow of the government, and suspected mutiny because they took part in the statewide demonstration.
They were alleged to have participated in the last #EndBadGovernance protest in Kano State, during which they allegedly chanted anti-government slogans and carried foreign flags and were reportedly detained till today after being nabbed on August 3.
According to one of the defence lawyers, Marshall Abubakar, the defendants were charged in two batches of 76 and 49.
Shortly after the first batch was called, the defendants were mounting the dock when some of them suddenly fell down, causing confusion in court, a development that prompted Justice Egwuatu to suspend proceedings.
Health officials from the court’s clinic have been invited to attended to those who collapsed.
Abubakar blamed the development on hunger and ill-health on the part of the defendants. He said most of the defendants were mostly teens of about 12 years old.
He said: “All these young children are sick and hungry. They have been kept in police custody for weeks without food and proper medical care. They are sick and need proper attention. That is the cause of these unfortunate developments.”
More details later.
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