By Damilare Adeleye
Court proceedings were disrupted on Friday when a minor, who is among 76 persons set to be arraigned for participating in the recent EndBadGovernance protest that held across the country, collapsed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
It was learnt that the defendant, who is barely 15 years old, slumped as the charge was about to be read to them by trial Justice Obiora Egwuatu, forcing the judge to abruptly halt the proceedings and return to his chambers.
It was reported that with the help of lawyers in the courtroom, the frail looking boy was rushed to the court’s clinic as his co-defendants, mostly minors, weep uncontrollably.
One of the counsel representing the defendants, Mr. Deji Adeyanju had earlier disclosed that the minors had spent over 80 days in police custody.
He revealed that the 76 defendants, who will be answering to a 10-count charge marked: FCH/ABJ/CS/503/2024, are among many others that were arrested in Abuja and Kano state during the protest.
