By Gbemiga Olamikan.
The Human Right Activist, Prince Deji Adeyanju has commended AGF action over endbadgovernance protesters as he directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile of 73 arrested and remanded in correctional center to his office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) today Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) in a statement signed late November 1, 2024 said “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.”
He said “there are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision. I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.”
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date)”.
However, reacting to AGF action, Adeyanju said “I commend AGF for this as it is the right step to save Nigeria this international embarrassment as protest can never be a crime.” He said “AGF must ensure all charges against end bad governance protesters are all discontinued not just against the minors alone but everyone”.
He noted that “we cannot be spending tax payers’ money to restrict citizen’s rights instead of prosecuting bandits and criminal gangs”
