A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed charges against individuals linked to the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

The presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the case on Tuesday following a request from M. D. Abubakar, counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, to take over and discontinue the suit.

Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar, exercised his authority under section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to assume control of the case from the Inspector General of Police.

After Justice Egwuatu approved the request, the Attorney General applied to invoke the same constitutional provision to withdraw charges against the 119 defendants.

The judge, noting no opposition from the defendants’ representatives, granted the application and formally dismissed the charges. Although the accused were absent, Justice Egwuatu ordered their immediate release from custody.

President Bola Tinubu had, on Monday, directed the Attorney General to dismiss the charges, as the majority of defendants were minors who should not have been prosecuted. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed the President’s directive for the immediate release of these minors, regardless of any ongoing legal processes.

Furthermore, Tinubu instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to address the minors’ welfare needs and facilitate their reunification with their families across the country. He also ordered the establishment of a committee, led by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest, detention, and treatment of the minors.

This development comes shortly after minors involved in the protests were arraigned in Abuja on charges including treason. The youths had been detained in Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states, and granted bail set at ₦10 million.

Outrage erupted when some detained minors, appearing malnourished, fainted in court. The incident prompted a nationwide outcry from civil society groups and human rights advocates.

Following the incident, Fagbemi remarked, “Our office must examine the case to allow me to make an informed decision.” He then instructed the police to hand over the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.