The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the case against individuals charged in relation to the #EndBadGovernance protests, following intervention by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The case, which involved 119 individuals arrested during the nationwide protest, was struck out by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Tuesday after an application by the AGF’s office to discontinue proceedings.
During the session, M. D. Abubakar, counsel representing the AGF, applied for the dismissal under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the AGF powers to take over and discontinue cases.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, who announced that the federal government had decided to withdraw from the case, previously led by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Justice Egwuatu accepted the AGF’s application and granted the discontinuation request, effectively dismissing the charges against the 119 accused persons.
Although the defendants were not present in court, Justice Egwuatu directed their immediate release from custody.
The development follows an order from President Bola Tinubu on Monday, instructing the AGF to end the prosecution.
Many of the detained individuals are reportedly minors, which prompted the President's decision to halt proceedings and ensure their release.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which erupted across the country, were aimed at addressing issues such as police brutality, corruption, and poor governance.
The mass arrests led to nationwide concern and calls from activists and legal experts urging the government to consider the implications of prosecuting protesters, especially minors.
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