Minor Faints in Court During Protest Trial; Judge Temporarily Halts Proceedings
A young defendant, one of 76 individuals facing trial by the Nigerian Police Force for their involvement in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria, fainted on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The teenager, aged around 15, collapsed just as Justice Obiora Egwuatu was about to read the charges against them, leading the judge to pause the proceedings and retreat to his chambers.
Lawyers and other attendees quickly assisted the visibly weak boy, taking him to the court’s clinic. Many of his co-defendants, most of whom are minors, were visibly distraught, with several crying in distress.
One of the defense attorneys, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, previously noted that the minors had spent over 80 days in police detention.
The 76 defendants face a 10-count charge, listed as FCH/ABJ/CS/503/2024, for alleged actions during protests held in Abuja and Kano. According to the charges, signed by a police legal team led by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, the defendants, along with others not yet apprehended, allegedly conspired between July 31 and August 4 to commit acts seen as threats to national stability.
The charges include treason, an offense under Section 96 of the Penal Code, with penalties outlined in Section 97.
