Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, has strongly condemned the long detention of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests by the police authorities. In a statement issued in Lokoja on Saturday by Arogbonlo Israel, her Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan described the police action as “inhumane and unjust.”
A total of 76 minors were on Friday arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of Federal High Court, Abuja, where some of them reportedly fainted due to malnutrition before the judge, who ordered for their detention till January, 2025.
But Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned such order and called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to investigate the detention order granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu
According to her, detaining minors in a medium correctional facility is wrong and violates their fundamental human rights. “This is because children should be tried in a juvenile court, where their identities are protected and not displayed or published in Court. I hereby urge the Controller of Prisons, Haliru Nababa, to investigate the detention conditions of juveniles at the Kuje prisons over improper facilities,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed to the Federal Government to “temper justice with mercy” and release the detained minors, whom she said were likely used by unscrupulous adults to commit crimes.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has stated that the fainting of six suspects in court before their arraignment was a deliberate act, scripted to attract negative attention. Egbetokun stressed, however, that medical assistance was promptly provided.
