Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has decried the detention of minors arrested in connection with the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, calling it “inhumane and unjust.”
On Saturday, she urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to investigate the detention order issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court.
Justice Egwuatu recently set bail at N10 million for 72 defendants, including malnourished minors, with each defendant required to provide two sureties.
Akpoti-Uduaghan criticized the decision to house minors in a medium-security facility, arguing that this violates their fundamental rights. She called for their cases to be handled in juvenile court, where their identities would be protected from public exposure.
The senator also appealed to the Controller of Prisons, Haliru Nababa, to investigate conditions at the Kuje Medium Security Custodian Centre, citing concerns over malnourishment and lack of proper facilities for juveniles.
She emphasized that Kuje is not intended for children, advocating for their transfer to juvenile correctional facilities instead.
In her statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Federal Government to “temper justice with mercy” and release the minors, suggesting that they may have been used by adults in the protests. “Children should be in school, not detention,” she concluded.
