A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out the suit filed against 119 persons arrested during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.

The presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the suit on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

This followed an application by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) counsel, M. D Abubakar, to take over and discontinue the suit.

The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, during proceedings announced the exercise of his power of section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

After granting the request by Justice Egwuatu, the AGF proceeded to request the invocation of the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 119 accused persons.

Tinubu orders release of minors, vows to punish officials for infractions

Following no objections to the request from various lawyers representing the accused persons, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and struck out the charges.

The judge ordered also the immediate release of the arrested protesters from prison.

President Bola Tinubu had, on Monday, November 4, directed the AGF to terminate the charges against the accused persons, most of who are minors and prohibited by law from facing such trial.

The Star