Reprieve came the way of minor protesters who were standing trial for their roles in the last #endbadgovernance protests Tuesday, 5 November, 2024 as the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu dismissed the treason charges brought against them by the Inspector General of Police.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed the charges on Tuesday, 5 November, 2024 after they were withdrawn by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Fagbemi, SAN, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), M.D. Abubakar, had announced during the proceedings the exercise of his powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police.
Upon the court granting the request, the AGF then invoked the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 150 accused persons.
With no objections from the various lawyers representing the accused persons, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and struck out the charges.
Although the accused persons were not in court, the judge ordered their immediate release from prison remand.
Thegazellenews.com had reported that President Bola Tinubu had on Monday, 4 November, 2024 directed the AGF to terminate the charges against the accused persons, most of whom are reportedly minors and legally exempt from such trials.
