Falana Urges Government To Prioritize Rehabilitation And Education For Minors In Custody

Falana Urges Government To Prioritize Rehabilitation And Education For Minors In Custody

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the Federal Government to reintegrate and enroll all minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests into schools.On Friday, 76 individuals, predominantly minors who appeared to be malnourished, were brought to court in connection with the protests, with six of them collapsing and being rushed out for medical attention….CONTINUE READING…

In response to public outcry over the incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of charges against the minors on Monday.

While reviewing Richard Akinnola’s book Judiciary Terrorism in Abuja on Tuesday, Falana remarked that the government was too embarrassed to present another group, which included 29 minors, in court following last week’s public backlash.

Falana vowed to take legal action against the Federal Government if the minors are not sent to school, emphasizing that simply withdrawing the case is not enough.

He stated, “Just this morning, before this program started, I was in the courts here in Abuja, where 119 Nigerians, including twenty-nine minors, were brought to court. But the government was so ashamed that it couldn’t bring them into the courtroom, unlike last week. Today, they came to withdraw the baseless charges, leading to the release of the young people.

“However, as I informed the court, it’s not sufficient to terminate this trial. These young individuals, who should have been in school during the protests, need rehabilitation from the government. We will ensure they receive that rehabilitation and are sent to school.”

Falana further highlighted the government’s obligation under the Child Rights Act, which mandates free and compulsory education for all children in Nigeria from primary to secondary school. He emphasized, “If the government fails in this duty, we will pursue the matter in court.”

In related news, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Kukah, noted that the country has moved past its worst periods and urged citizens to remain united. He pointed out that many issues in Nigeria stem from a lack of understanding of the importance of national unity.

Kukah encouraged citizens to reflect on the experiences of those in places like Gaza and Lebanon, stating, “We should appreciate what we have, as many have sacrificed their lives for this nation. We must recognize our fortune, for we do not know what it’s like to live without a country. Let us learn from the experiences of others facing turmoil.”