Minor protesters: Ex-presidential aide Akande harps on due diligence in public prosecution

Former Presidential aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, has observed some of the conduct of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, urging them to exercise greater due diligence and respect the rights of young Nigerians. Akande, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, expressed deep concerns over the recent arraignment of young #EndBadGovernance protesters, arguing that […]

Former Presidential aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, has observed some of the conduct of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, urging them to exercise greater due diligence and respect the rights of young Nigerians.

Akande, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, expressed deep concerns over the recent arraignment of young #EndBadGovernance protesters, arguing that the authorities held the protesters for prolonged periods more than the laws permit.

“You cannot say that somebody is a criminal suspect until you have conclusive evidence presented in court,” Akande asserted.

He referenced the case of Engr. Khalid Aminu, who was reportedly detained for 68 days in Kaduna without sufficient evidence to substantiate the charges. “Engr. Aminu was featured on Inside Sources last week. He spent 68 days in detention, and eventually, the government dropped the charges. The lawyers reviewed the evidence and found it lacking. This demonstrates a clear lack of due diligence in the work our law enforcement agencies are doing,” Akande stated.

He argued that such cases exemplify a disturbing trend where enforcement agencies hastily label individuals as suspects without adequate proof, often resulting in prolonged and unjust detentions.

“If you think that somebody has broken the law, show us conclusively. Don’t just scapegoat people,” Akande emphasized.

The former spokesperson also condemned the detention of young protesters, including minors, highlighting the excessive duration of their detention as a direct violation of the law.

Akande criticized the decision to parade these young Nigerians in open court, describing it as a “shoddy and sloppy” process that demonstrated a lack of respect for their legal rights.

Akande, who is the host of biweekly programme Inside Sources on Channels Television, said “To make matters worse, how people felt that it will be ok to bring them in open court in that very shoddy, sloppy not to even talk about that their rights are being violated.”

“That mentality of those people [the law enforcement agencies] regardless of whether they’re in uniform or not. I’m saying they’re first and foremost, Nigerians. To think you can treat young people in very despicable manner,” he noted.

Akande’s comments come at a time of heightened public scrutiny over the actions of law enforcement agencies, particularly in relation to the treatment of young protesters. He called for comprehensive reforms within these agencies to ensure they uphold the principles of justice and the rule of law.