NO fewer than five malnourished teenagers collapsed just minutes before their arraignment Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
The 125 defendants were charged with terrorism by the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of participation in the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest in Kano State.
The defendants were divided into two batches of 76 and 49 for arraignment before Justice Egwuatu.
As the first batch was called, some defendants suddenly fell while mounting the dock.
The judge promptly suspended proceedings and summoned health officials from the court’s clinic to attend to those who collapsed.
According to defence lawyer Marshall Abubakar, the collapse was due to hunger and ill health.
He said: “All these young children are sick and hungry. They have been kept in police custody for weeks without food and proper medical care. They are sick and need proper attention. That is the cause of these unfortunate developments.”
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has sought the transfer of the case file of the protesters from the police to his office.
The AGF has also directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation to bring the adjournment date to an earlier date.
Eighteen-Eleven Media