The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly condemned the detention of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, describing it as “inhumane and unjust”.
On Saturday, the senator 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 N10m bail to 72 defendants, including the malnourished minors, over their alleged participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
The judge specified that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, detaining minors in a medium correctional facility is wrong and violates their fundamental human rights.
She emphasised that children should be tried in a juvenile court, and their identities protected, not displayed or published in Court.
The senator also urged the Controller of Prisons, Haliru Nababa, to investigate the detention conditions of juveniles at the Kuje prisons, citing malnourishment and improper facilities.
She stressed that “Kuje Medium Security Custodian Centre is not designed for detaining children and that 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.”
She added, “Children should be in school, not detention.”
