The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of N10 million each to emaciated minors detained during the #EndHunger protests held in August.
Of the 76 protesters detained, 32 were minors between the ages of 14 and 17. Four of these children collapsed in court on Friday, prompting urgent medical assistance.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that each defendant must provide two sureties to secure their release. One surety is required to be a civil servant on at least grade level 15, while the other must be a parent.
Both sureties must provide verifiable addresses before bail can be finalized.
Under the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, prosecutors temporarily withdrew charges against the ailing minors to accommodate health concerns. Video evidence captured by Peoples Gazette showed some minors lying on the courtroom floor, too weak to stand, while legal representatives scrambled to secure medical aid.
The detained minors had been held in custody for over two months. They were arrested across several states, including Abuja, Kano, Plateau, Kaduna, Gombe, and Katsina, during protests from August 1 to August 10.
Among those charged with alleged treason were Umar Musa, 15; Muhammadu Mustapha, 16; Awolu Abdulahi, 21; and Nura Ibrahim, 24.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Nigerians have expressed frustration over worsening economic conditions, including a surge in petrol prices, which rose to N1,065 per liter from N170 in 2023, and a drastic depreciation of the naira to N1,700 per dollar. These economic changes have increased financial pressure on citizens, especially with the reliance on imported goods.
