The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said on Friday that children above the age of seven can be charged to court.
Adejobi stated this while responding to questions regarding the arraignment of minor #EndBadGovernance protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to him, those exempt from criminal liability under the law are children under the age of seven, emphasising that the arraigned individuals are 13 years old and above.
He said, “Those exempt from criminal liability under the law are those below seven. Once you are above seven, you can be charged to court.
The only consideration is the specific procedures required. None of them is younger than seven. The youngest is around 13.
“The fact that someone is 13 does not mean they cannot be charged to court. Even under the Children and Young Persons Act, individuals can still be charged. We have charged them on behalf of the Federal Government.
“These are individuals who leveraged the #EndBadGovernance protests, hijacked it, became violent, and displayed flags from Russia and other countries, which is, of course, an offence. They are criminally liable, and we have not charged anyone underage.”
He also condemned individuals wearing police uniforms without authorisation.
Earlier, the Federal Government’s Counsel, Rimazonte Ezekiel, claimed that some of the 76 minors arraigned for the #EndBadGovernance protests are adults.
Ezekiel alleged that some have wives who appeared in court with their parents.
He stated this on Friday while speaking to journalists after the ruling that set bail for the minors at N10 million each, totalling N760 million.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters, setting a total bail amount of N760 million, with two sureties per defendant.
The judge specified that one of the sureties must be a Level 15 civil servant, and the other should be the defendant’s parent. He further instructed the sureties to submit letters of last promotion, letters of appointment, identification, and verified addresses to the court.
Additionally, they must deposit their international passports with the court registrar, provide passport photographs, and swear an affidavit of means.
Egwuatu said, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties in like sum. One of them must be a Level 15 civil servant, and the other a parent of the defendant.”
