Lawyers are urging President Bola Tinubu to pursue rehabilitation and compensation for minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests, citing child rights violations as the youth’s cases are dropped. Legal experts call for more support beyond their release, emphasizing that justice should involve both restoration and reparations.

After President Tinubu directed the release of the minors, Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the cases against them. The President’s action came amid widespread outcry over the minors’ arraignment, with many expressing concern over the conditions they faced in detention. Despite Vice President Kashim Shettima’s call for the youth to reform and build responsible lives, legal voices insist on further measures to address the harm done.

Prominent voices, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Wahab Shittu, highlight that the President’s initial step was commendable but insufficient. Shittu stated, “The President should go further by rehabilitating, re-orienting, and compensating the victims with welfare schemes addressing their immediate needs.” Shittu underscored that such a move would reflect a government attuned to public sentiment and ready to address citizens’ concerns.

Joseph Otteh, convener of Access to Justice, sharply criticized the initial arrests and subsequent charges as baseless and excessive. “Their detention was reckless and unjustified,” Otteh said, emphasizing that accusations of terrorism and treason were malicious and ungrounded. He argued that constitutional mandates demand both an apology and compensation when rights are violated, a principle clearly applicable in these cases.

Otteh pointed to the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that wrongfully detained individuals deserve both an apology and restitution. “Compensation is embedded in the very nature of their wrongful arrest and detention,” he asserted. The expert further argued that the legal process failed the minors at multiple stages, from the arrest to the extended detention beyond what the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) permits.

Adding to the dialogue, SAN Kunle Adegoke questioned the legitimacy of prosecuting minors as adults, noting that those under 17 should be treated with consideration of their age and cognitive development. Adegoke maintained that minors are generally presumed incapable of forming criminal intent, making criminal trials for such youths inappropriate. He added that if they are indeed minors, they should have been referred to child welfare facilities instead of standing trial in a conventional court setting.

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Professor Sam Erugo criticized the police’s handling of the case, describing the decision to detain and try minors as “embarrassing and unfortunate.” He cited the Child Rights Act, which mandates that children should be handled through specialized family courts rather than the public justice system. Erugo argued that such actions violated basic child protections, designed to ensure that youths are treated with sensitivity and shielded from exposure to harsh adult facilities.

Professor Damilola Olawuyi echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Nigeria’s commitment under international law to prioritize children’s welfare in all judicial matters. “The best interest of the child must be the primary consideration in any juvenile case,” Olawuyi stressed, pointing to the importance of rehabilitation and restorative justice over punitive measures.

Senior Advocate Wolemi Esan elaborated on Nigeria’s legal classifications, explaining that children under seven are exempt from criminal responsibility, while those aged 7-12 may only be held accountable if they understood their actions. Esan warned that deviations from these protections signal a serious misstep in legal proceedings and a failure to uphold statutory requirements.

Olawuyi concluded that minors require tailored legal handling, stating, “To subject children to such inhumane conditions is not only illegal but also an avoidable blemish on Nigeria’s international standing.” He advocated for continuous human rights training for law enforcement, underscoring the necessity of adhering to global standards.