The lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned the detention of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
She described the detention of the minors as “inhumane and unjust”.
The senator on Saturday equally called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to investigate the detention order granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court.
Egwuatu granted N10 million bail to 72 defendants, including the malnourished minors, over their alleged participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, saying that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum.
“The children should be tried in a juvenile court, and their identities protected, not displayed or published in court,” she said.
The senator also urged Haliru Nababa, the Controller of Prisons, to properly investigate the detention conditions of juveniles at the Kuje prisons, citing malnourishment and improper facilities.
She stressed that the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre is not designed for detaining children and that a juvenile correctional facility should be used instead.
Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed to the Federal Government to temper justice with mercy and release the detained minors, stating that unscrupulous adults likely used them to commit crimes.
According to her, “Children should be in school, not detention.”
EndBadGovernance: Children should be in school, not detention – Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan