3rd November, 2024
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to cause an immediate and unconditional release of all the #EndBadGovernance protesters including the 32 hungry and malnourished children recently arraigned in court.
According to SERAP, “These children and other protesters are detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
SERAP urged Mr Fagbemi and appropriate law enforcement agencies to promptly investigate the circumstances surrounding the grave violations of the human rights of the children and other protesters in detention to identify and bring to justice those responsible, and ensure justice and remedies for the victims.
The body asked Tinubu “to direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate agencies to ensure the immediate access to medical treatment for all the protesters including the 32 hungry malnourished children for their deteriorating health.”
In the open letter dated 2 November 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Bringing charges against children and detaining them simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights is not acting in the ‘best interests of the child’.
“The detention of the 32 hungry and malnourished children also infringes on their right to education. These children ought to be in school, and not languishing in detention.
“The apparent ill-treatment of the protesters including the 32 hungry and malnourished children have shone a light on the appalling conditions in Nigeria’s prisons which continue to put lives at risk.”
The letter, copied to Dr Matthew Gillett, the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, read in part: “The continuing arbitrary detention of the protesters creates a climate of fear, discouraging other citizens from freely exercising their human rights, leading to a broader chilling effect.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
