Nigeria court frees 119 protesters after government drops charges

The country's attorney general took over the case from the police and dropped the charges after bringing forward the matter due to be heard in January.
A Nigerian court freed 119 people including minors on Tuesday, after the authorities dropped charges against them arising from deadly protests in August against economic hardship.
The accused had faced charges including treason and inciting a military coup, and had been arraigned in batches of 76 and 43 last Friday. One of the charges carried the death penalty.
More To Read
- Brave Kenya exit AFCON U20 after draw with Nigeria
- Nigerian tribunal upholds Sh28.5 billion fine against Meta for violating consumer, data laws
- Lassa fever kills 118 in Nigeria over last three months
- Nigeria’s state of emergency: was President Tinubu’s declaration legal and justified?
- Nigeria bets on deradicalisation programme in North West
- Why West Africa could soon have a jihadist state
President Bola Tinubu on Monday ordered the release of all minors detained during anti-government protests in August, and dropped the charges against them.
"The case has been struck out and the 119 protesters have been released," Deji Adeyanju, counsel to the protesters, told Reuters.
"Now we are asking for their rehabilitation and compensation by their various state governments."
The country's attorney general took over the case from the police and dropped the charges after bringing forward the matter due to be heard in January.
Top Stories Today