A civil society organization, Women Aid Collective Nigeria (WACOL) has called on the Federal Government to reform the handling of minors within the justice system, insisting that offending youths should be redirected away from conventional judicial processes.
The group emphasizes the need to separate minors from adults in detention facilities and to consider alternative measures before resorting to detention.
This appeal follows the recent arraignment of 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters, including minors, by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. The protesters appeared before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, and their treatment has sparked significant public outrage. Videos of malnourished children from the protests circulated online, prompting several civil society organizations to demand their immediate and unconditional release.
In a statement released on Sunday, WACOL’s Executive Director, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, criticized the judicial system’s handling of minors, highlighting the implications for children’s rights in Nigeria. “Children’s rights are human rights, and Nigerian children’s rights must be respected and upheld. Children who are in conflict with the law should be redirected away from the formal judicial process. Recent events have significantly undermined our justice system, representing a clear violation of state, national, regional, and international legal frameworks concerning children’s rights and the justice system,” she stated.
Ezeilo underscored the importance of separating minors from adults within detention settings, emphasizing the need to protect their privacy and identities. “Children who are alleged to have committed crimes must be kept separate from adults in detention facilities. Detention and trial should only be used as a last resort, and if necessary, a Juvenile Court or Juvenile Judge should handle such proceedings,” she added.
The statement further called for a justice system that respects the dignity and worth of minors, taking into account their age and promoting their reintegration into society. “The administration of the criminal or juvenile justice system must ensure a treatment that promotes their sense of dignity and worth, considers their age, and aims at their reintegration into society to assume a constructive role,” Ezeilo said.
Ezeilo also condemned the “ugly phenomenon” of children being starved while facing serious charges such as mutiny and treason. She argued that such practices bring shame to Nigeria and called for accountability among those responsible for upholding the law. “This ugly phenomenon of starving children facing charges of mutiny and treasonable felonies must stop. It shames us as a nation. We demand accountability now for those who failed to respect extant laws. A prosecutor should know better and always do the right thing in the temple of justice,” she concluded.
