The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has granted N10 million bail to each emaciated minor arrested during the #EndHunger demonstrations in August.
Of the 76 protesters, at least 32 were children ranging from 14 years old to 17 years old. Four of them collapsed in court on Friday and were rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu asked the defendants to provide two sureties, one of whom must be a civil servant on at least grade level 15.
The second surety, Mr Egwuatu insisted, must be a parent. Both sureties were required to submit verifiable addresses to the court before bail could be processed.
Prosecutors temporarily withdrew the charges against the ailing minors according to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which allows for temporary exemption on health grounds.
Video footage reviewed by Peoples Gazette showed children laying on the courtroom floor, writhing in pain and reportedly too weak to stand while lawyers ran helter-skelter to get them medical help.
The defendants, primarily minors, stood in the dock looking emaciated, having spent more than two months in detention.
Protesters arraigned were picked up from different states, including Abuja, Kano, Plateau, Kaduna, Gombe and Katsina, during the #EndHunger protests between August 1 and 10.
Among those facing trial for treason were Umar Musa, 15; Muhammadu Mustapha, 16; Awolu Abdulahi, 21; and Nura Ibrahim, 24.
Nigerians have lashed out at President Bola Tinubu, whose administration has thrown citizens into extreme poverty with petrol prices selling at N1065 per litre, up from N170 in 2023 when he took office.
Inflation has skyrocketed, and the currency soared to a historic high of N1,700 to a dollar, intensifying the economic strain on Nigerians who rely heavily on imported goods.
