The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly condemned the long detention of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests by the police authorities.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement issued in Lokoja on Saturday by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel, described the police action as inhumane and unjust.
Recall that a total of 76 minors were on Friday arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of Federal High Court, Abuja, where some of them reportedly fainted due to malnutrition before the judge, who ordered for their detention till January, 2025.
Reacting, Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned such order and called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to investigate the detention order granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu
According to her, detaining minors in a medium correctional facility is wrong and violates their fundamental human rights.
“This is because children should be tried in a juvenile court, where their identities are protected and not displayed or published in Court.
“I hereby urge the Controller of Prisons, Haliru Nababa, to investigate the detention conditions of juveniles at the Kuje prisons over improper facilities.
“Kuje medium security custodian centre is not designed for detaining children. The juvenile correctional facilities should be used instead,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed to the Federal Government to “temper justice with mercy” and release the detained minors, whom she said were likely used by unscrupulous adults to commit crimes.
“It’s my my belief that the children should be in school and not in detention,” she added.
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