The federal government through the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has begun moves to drop charges against 32 minors who were arrested and charged to court for participating in the hunger protest.
It is recalled the hungry looking minors were brought to court during the week with four of them collapsing in the court. Their presence attracted widespread criticism from both local and international such as the CNN condemning the action of the federal government.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja later granted them bail in the sum of N10million each
However hours after their arraignment in court, the AGF stepped into the matter and ordered the police to transfer the minors case file to his office.
Indication have now emerged that the office of the AGF has commenced moves to drop the charges brought against them.
Speaking on the matter, the AGF said he requested for the case file so he could decide on what to do following tue condemnation that trailed the incident
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to make an informed decision,”
“It is not within my power to vary the court order remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to my office and hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation,” he said
He added: “I have further directed the DPPF to immediately initiate steps to request an earlier adjournment date.”
Source within the Federal Ministry of Justice confirmed that while the AGF has already received the file, he has started moves to drop the charges against the minors.
To ensure the charges are swiftly dropped, the source added that rather than wait till January , there are plans to make.the court sit on the matter early this week.
“The police have submitted the case file, and the parties are working together. The court will reconvene early this week,” the source said.
Also, confirming the development is the counsel for all the 119 defendants, Marshall Abubakar, who said the government is taking steps to drop the charges against the minors this week.
“The government has been calling; the AGF has called. I think, most likely, by next week (this week) we will get the charges thrown out,” Abubakar said.