The114 #EndBadGovernance protesters, including minors and adults, who were discharged by the Federal High Court in Abuja, have arrived at the Presidential Villa to receive a presidential welcome.
The Explainer reported that the protesters were previously charged with treason, but the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), M.D. Abubakar, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, announced the withdrawal of the case in response to public outrage.
The trial judge, Obiora Egwatu, subsequently struck out the charges.
President Bola Tinubu had ordered the release of the protesters on Monday, following widespread condemnation of the treatment of the minors among them.
According to the Women’s Affairs Minister, approximately 52 of the protesters were minors.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of President Tinubu, is set to receive the freed protesters at the Presidential Villa and hand them over to the governors of their respective states.
The Governors of Kaduna, Uba Sani, and Kano, Abba Yusuf, are already present at the villa to welcome the protesters, many of whom are believed to be from these two states.
Joining the vice president are several notable figures, including the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda; the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu; the Deputy State President, Barau Jibrin; and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi.
