From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has disclosed that the decision by President Bola Tinubu to terminate the treason charges against some teenagers involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protest was purely on compassionate grounds and not on law.
Speaking at the commissioning of a new office complex built by an Abuja-based law firm “the Law Corridor” the AGF noted that there is no law in the nation’s constitution that forbids the prosecution of minors.
The Law Corridor, which has Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi as its managing partner, also has Mr. Henry Kelechukwu Eni-Otu as the lead partner and Ganiyu Ajibola Bello as the Deputy managing partner.
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had last Tuesday struck out two separate treason charges that were preferred against 119 persons that were arrested and detained for participating in the nationwide protest that was held between August 1 and August 10.
Speaking on the decision to withdraw the case against the teenagers, Fagbemi said: “No law in this country says a minor cannot be tried, and I have also heard suggestions that they should go to a family court.
“The study of the law and the constitution leaves you no other conclusion than that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction in matters bordering on treason and related issues.
“So, whatever the situation, the president has closed the chapter by his decision to have these young men released.
“The president was very compassionate; he is a father and a grandfather. If you look at the facts in the possession of the security agency, you would marvel.
“But the president said, despite all this, I have children and grandchildren, and that motivated his passion to release them and also enable them in some ways.
“So the credit goes to him (the President) for showing compassionate consideration in releasing the young chaps,” the AGF added.
Source: Daily Sun
