Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has openly criticized the prolonged detention of minors by law enforcement following the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
Her statement, issued in Lokoja by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel, highlighted the senator’s concern for the conditions under which these young individuals are being held, describing the situation as “inhumane and unjust.”
According to reports, a group of 76 minors was recently presented before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Observers in the courtroom noted that some of the detained children fainted due to malnutrition and poor health, underscoring the poor treatment they have endured in custody.
Despite these concerns, the judge ordered the minors’ continued detention until January 2025, sparking widespread concern and protest.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed her disapproval of the court’s decision and called upon Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of the Federation, to examine and reassess the detention order issued by Justice Egwuatu.
She emphasized that housing minors in a medium-security correctional facility is inappropriate and a violation of their basic rights. The senator argued that these children should be given fair treatment under juvenile law rather than being exposed in an adult court setting.
“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.
