CHILD PROTECTION NETWORK (CPN) NIGERIA’s STATEMENT ON THE ARRAIGNMENT OF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MALNOURISHED MINORS AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT ABUJA ON TREASONABLE FELONY AND OTHER CHARGES

Earlier on Friday 1st November, 2024, the attention of the Child Protection Network Nigeria was drawn to the viral video of a significant number of severely malnourished children, who were arraigned at the Federal High Court Abuja on allegations of Treasonable Felony and other charges.

These children were said to be have been arrested in August 2024 for participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, which took place some months ago.



In a swift response, The National Coordinator of Child Protection Network Nigeria in collaboration with state coordinator of the FCT Chapter immediately initiated response actions by first contacting relevant and concerned actors within and outside the Network, and conveyed an emergency case response team to ascertain the true state of the unfortunate incident, the situation of the minors affected and design a well-coordinated approach and response strategy to address the situation. The Network this evening held an emergency stakeholders meeting where the issue was thoroughly discussed and ways forward advanced.

Child Protection Network condemns in totality the unlawful detention of these minors in police cells, DSS custody and Kuje Prisons for a period of 93 days under an unsanitary, unfriendly and inhuman conditions. Subsequently, the arraignment of the minors in the open courtroom alongside other adults also violates the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Child Rights Act, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and several other local and international legal frameworks, all of which provides that the trial of a child offender shall and must only take place in specialized family court so as to guarantee the safety, wellbeing and protection of the dignity and identity of the child offender.

As part of the outcomes of the emergency stakeholders meeting, Child Protection Network Nigeria with all other relevant Civil Society Organisations and Coalitions shall in the coming days, weeks and months be carrying out a well-coordinated, strategic and comprehensive response action to ensure the rights of these minors are maintained and respected while also preventing future occurrence. 

We assure all our members, partners and the public of the Network's firm commitment to protect the rights of the affected children and other children always.


Signed:


Barr. Michael Awo Ejeh 

Assistant National Secretary, CPN Nigeria.

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