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#EndBadGovernance: NHRC Condemns Police’s Arraignment Of Children For Treason
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in its entirety the arraignment for treason of children and minors who allegedly participated in the recent nationwide #EndGadGovernance protests.
In a statement on Monday, the commission stated that the arrest, detention and arraignment of the minors by the Nigerian Police on charges of treason and attempting to overthrow a legitimate government among other charges, clearly contravenes a plethora of national, regional and international laws.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu who stated this in Abuja over the weekend, noted that the action of the Nigeria Police has raised significant concerns among senior lawyers and legal experts, the human rights community, development partners, sister national human rights institutions and well-meaning Nigerians.
It also said the act is widely considered an excessive and inappropriate use of state institutions against citizens and it is even worse when the victims are children and minors whose best interests were not considered at all in line with the law.
The NHRC’s Chief Executive Officer stressed the importance of ensuring that legal proceedings align with children’s rights as protected under Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act 2003, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA), and some regional and international legal frameworks, including the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
“These frameworks emphasised that children should be treated differently and separated from adults within the justice system, focusing on their best interest, protection and rehabilitation rather than harsh punitive measures.
“Unfortunately, the trial court should know better than the police unleashed a draconian bail condition which almost all the children cannot meet, and adjourned the matter to Jan 2025, knowing fully well that these are children who have been detained since August 2024. In fact, the judge witnessed some of the children looking malnourished and unwell which calls to question the mental state of the judge when imposing such bail conditions on the children and minors for participating in a protest now turned into treason.
“The NHRC’s criticism mainly centres on the insensitivity of the prosecution and the court for the lack of humanity, accountability and impunity in the application of the law to the children, the severe nature of the charges, the draconian bail conditions and the potential for the psychological harm such impunity in actions might cause minors, bearing in mind that there are procedures for the treatment of the underaged, even when they come in conflict with the law.
“When treated in the way the prosecution and the court have done, our children could grow up with deep grudges against society, and unleash huge contempt on society in future.
“We are therefore calling for immediate corrective action to ensure that children are not unfairly subjected to extreme inhumanity and slammed with charges like treason, which carry heavy penalties generally reserved for adult offenders accused of severe crimes against the state”, the learned Silk advised.
According to his statement, the incident also points to broader systemic issues within Nigeria’s criminal and juvenile justice system and the need for reforms and enlightenment of police and the judiciary, on the need to protect child rights in compliance with both national and international human rights standards.
Ojukwu commended the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for intervening by instructing the police to forward the case files of these minors to his office for a review by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF).
“This action by the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation is seen as a positive step towards ensuring a fair and careful evaluation of the charges levelled against the minors, providing an opportunity to reassess the appropriateness of the charges, the combination of adults and children in the same charges, the venue of trial of adults and children, the length of adjournment, the venue of the incarceration of the children, the onerous bail conditions, the health and nutrition of the children and a host of other considerations enumerated in the law concerning the treatment of Children when in conflict with the law.
“These considerations have been disregarded with impunity so far by both the police and the trial Judge therefore casting doubts as to whether the children can get fairness and justice from the current handlers within the police and court under the circumstances.
“The intervention of the HAGF further underscores the importance of prosecutorial and judicial oversight, particularly in cases involving children for serious allegations like treason.
“By involving the DPPF, the Attorney General’s office has demonstrated a commitment to upholding due process and the rights of children, who should be afforded protection and rehabilitation within the justice system.
“The NHRC’s position is to use this opportunity to re-emphasize the right to peaceful protest during the End Bad Governance Protests and the need for a balanced approach to justice, ensuring that the legal rights of minors are protected and that any legal proceedings reflect the principles of fairness and child protection as outlined in Nigeria’s legal frameworks,” the statement concluded.
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Ondo female student forced into sex-for-grades by HOD — NANS
The National Association of Nigerian Students has alleged that a female student of a tertiary institution in Ondo State was coerced into a sex-for-grades ordeal by her Head of Department after repeatedly failing a compulsory course needed for her graduation.
The President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed this in a statement on Friday titled, “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice.”
According to Akinteye, the student had only one outstanding course preventing her from graduating with her colleagues and returned to the institution to retake the examination.
He said the student was informed that she had failed the course again and subsequently approached the lecturer, who also served as the Head of Department, to seek clarification on why she was unable to pass.
According to the NANS president, the student alleged that the lecturer told her she could never pass the course and, after several encounters, demanded a sexual favour in exchange for awarding her a passing grade.
“She further alleged that, after several encounters, the lecturer demanded that she perform a sexual act on him in his office in exchange for a passing grade,” the statement partly read
Akinteye said the student claimed she felt trapped and believed she had no option if she wanted to graduate.
“Feeling trapped and believing she had no other option if she wanted to graduate, she said she complied and she gave the him BLOW JOB as demanded by him,” he stated.
According to him, the student believed the incident would end there, but the lecturer allegedly continued contacting her about a week later.
He alleged that the lecturer repeatedly called the student and invited her to his residence, implying that she would have to continue the sexual relationship before she could finally be cleared.
“Disturbed and afraid, she reached out to me for help,” Akinteye said.
The NANS president explained that although he initially intended to escalate the matter publicly, the student pleaded with him not to do so because she feared further victimisation and only wanted to graduate without additional harassment.
He said he subsequently contacted relevant authorities within the institution and was informed within three hours that the student had been cleared.
“While I am relieved that she was able to complete her academic process, I am deeply saddened that she was too afraid to publicly identify herself or the lecturer involved.
“This reflects the fear, intimidation and stigma that many female students face when confronted with sexual harassment,” he said.
Akinteye described the incident as part of a wider problem of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions, noting that many similar cases remain unreported because victims fear retaliation, embarrassment and victimisation.
“No student should ever be forced to exchange sexual favours for academic success. Our campuses must be places of learning, not environments where students are exploited by those entrusted with their education,” he added.
He urged female students experiencing sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation to report such incidents to the National Director of Gender of NANS, assuring them that complaints would be handled professionally, confidentially and with the seriousness they deserve.
“We are committed to handling such complaints professionally, confidentially, and with the seriousness they deserve. Together, we must build campuses where every student can pursue an education free from fear, harassment, and abuse,” he said.
The NANS president, however, did not disclose the name of the institution, the lecturer or the student involved.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the institution were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as NANS did not identify the school in its statement.
Credit: Punch
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Headline
Lagos queries LAGESC officer caught on camera collecting ₦20,000 bribe
The Lagos State Government has issued a query to an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps over allegations of corruption after a viral video purportedly showed him receiving a ₦20,000 bribe from a suspected environmental offender.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on X on Friday, describing the officer’s alleged conduct as unacceptable and contrary to the ethics and core values of the agency.
According to Wahab, the officer has been formally queried, while a Personnel Management Board will be constituted to investigate the incident in line with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
“My attention has been drawn to a viral video allegedly showing an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps receiving a bribe from a lawbreaker. Such conduct is unacceptable and runs contrary to the rules, ethics, and core values of the Agency,” Wahab wrote.
“Consequently, we have immediately issued the officer a query, and this will be followed by the constitution of a Personnel Management Board (PMB) to investigate the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.”
The commissioner reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, warning that any officer found guilty of misconduct would face appropriate disciplinary measures.
“The Lagos State Government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and any form of misconduct within its public service. Any officer found culpable will be subjected to the appropriate disciplinary measures as stipulated by the relevant regulations,” he said.
Wahab also warned members of the public against attempting to bribe government officials, stressing that both giving and receiving bribes are criminal offences.
“I also wish to remind Lagosians that offering a bribe is as unlawful as receiving one. We urge everyone to obey the law and refrain from attempting to compromise enforcement officers.
“Together, we can uphold integrity, strengthen public trust, and build a more accountable and responsible society,” he added.
In the query letter attached to the commissioner’s post, the officer was accused of collecting ₦20,000 from an offender, an act that was allegedly captured on video and circulated on social media.
The letter, referenced MOE/LAGESC/431/56 and dated July 10, 2026, stated that the footage was viewed by the Lagos State Governor.
“You were alleged to have collected the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) from an offender. This act was recorded and posted on social media, where it was viewed by His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State,” the letter read.
It described the alleged conduct as corruption and extortion, adding that it constituted serious misconduct under the Public Service Rules.
The officer was directed to submit a written explanation within 48 hours stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
“Your representation (if any) must reach the undersigned officer within 48 hours of receipt of this letter. Failure to submit your response within the stipulated time limit will result in disciplinary action being taken against you,” the letter added.
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Headline
Obi Deserves Protection From Federal Government, Not Ridicule — Kwankwaso
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Thursday criticised the federal government’s handling of concerns raised by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as well as the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, urging the authorities to uphold justice, fairness and the rule of law.
In a statement issued on Thursday,
Kwankwaso said Obi deserved state protection after expressing fears about his safety, while El-Rufai should be accorded due process and a fair trial in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
Reacting to Obi’s recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, in which the former Anambra State governor expressed concerns about his safety and alleged that his role as an opposition leader had negatively affected his businesses, Kwankwaso faulted the federal government’s response.
“Let me state clearly: like every Nigerian, our presidential candidate and all of us deserve the full protection of the state, not ridicule for raising legitimate concerns,” he said.
He added, “A government entrusted with protecting citizens should not dismiss or mock credible calls for help from any individual, including Mr. Peter Obi.”
Kwankwaso also expressed concern over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying he was disturbed after watching the former governor’s wives publicly speak about the family’s ordeal.
“Regardless of political affiliation, Malam El-Rufai, like every Nigerian, is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court,” he said.
He argued that the delay in granting El-Rufai bail under what he described as “stringent and unreasonable conditions” was troubling, insisting that, as an unconvicted citizen, the former governor deserved “a fair and expeditious trial” while his health and that of his family should be protected.
Kwankwaso urged the federal government to handle both matters with “transparency, accountability and justice,” warning against using state institutions to settle political scores.
“These issues must not be weaponised to settle political scores. For our democracy to truly thrive, every citizen, young or old, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political persuasion, must receive equal and equitable treatment under the law from the government that exists to protect us all,” he stated.
Obi had, during an interview on With Chude, alleged that the current administration was frustrating his activities and expressed fears that he might not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election. He also claimed that his businesses had suffered because of his role in the opposition.
His remarks drew a sharp response from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which dismissed the claims as “hallucination” and suggested that the former presidential candidate should undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Kwankwaso’s statement also comes amid growing concerns over El-Rufai’s detention. On Wednesday, one of the former governor’s wives, Asiya El-Rufai, alleged during an interview on ARISE News that the arrest of El-Rufai’s longtime physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, amounted to the “weaponisation” of healthcare, warning that such actions could discourage medical professionals from carrying out their duties without fear.
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