Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has clarified that trying minors in the court is not against the law.
Justice Fagbemi said this while speaking on Thursday night in Abuja, at the commissioning of Law Corridor’s new office complex and the presentation of a book on the modern Nigerian legal system.
Fagbemi said contrary to the public’s claim that arraigning and trying minors is against the law, it is, however, not unconstitutional, as long as they have committed crime.
“Let me seize this opportunity to clarify something. There is a misconception that, because these are children and minors (the arraigned #EndBadGovernance protesters), various theories have surfaced,” he 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.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday charged the 119 suspects in the August 1 protests in Kano and Kaduna States to use the opportunity given them by his presidential pardon to become responsible citizens of Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima passed the charge to the pardoned suspects, just as he advised them to desist from acts that lead to violence and destruction of public and private property.
He said the federal government is finding solutions to challenges confronting the nation.
Vice President Shettima spoke during the formal handover of 112 suspects, 73 from Kano and 39 from Kaduna States, to their respective governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Seven of the pardoned suspects had earlier been granted bail, and three were released to their parents, making a total of 119.
