NEWS
SERAP Issues Tinubu 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Detained Minors
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to use his “leadership position and good offices to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to take urgent steps to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all the #EndBadGovernance protesters including the 32 hungry and malnourished children.”
This was detailed in a statement in Lagos on Sunday under the signature of its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The SERAP said “these children and other protesters are detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
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The SERAP urged him “to direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate law enforcement agencies to promptly investigate the circumstances surrounding the grave violations of the human rights of the children and other protesters in detention, and to identify and bring to justice those responsible, and ensure justice and remedies for the victims.”
The SERAP also urged him “to direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate agencies to ensure the immediate access to medical treatment for all the protesters including the 32 hungry malnourished children for their apparently deteriorating health.”
According to the open letter dated 2 November 2024, “Bringing charges against children and detaining them simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights is clearly not acting in the ‘best interests of the child’.”
The SERAP said, “The detention of the 32 hungry and malnourished children also infringes their right to education. These children ought to be in school, and not languishing in detention.”
According to the SERAP, “The apparent ill-treatment of the protesters including the 32 hungry and malnourished children have shined a light on the appalling conditions in Nigeria’s prisons which continue to put lives at risk.”
The letter, copied to Dr. Matthew Gillett, the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, read in part: “The continuing arbitrary detention of the protesters creates a climate of fear, discouraging other citizens from freely exercising their human rights, leading to a broader chilling effect.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.
“SERAP is concerned that Nigerian authorities are weaponizing the criminal justice system to curtail the rights of the children and other protesters to liberty, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“We are concerned that the rights of the protesters to life, health, and safety are being violated in detention. Bringing charges against the protesters and detaining them is neither necessary nor proportionate.
“The conditions in which these children and other protesters are being detained are utterly inadequate and substantially below international standards.
“Children have the right to express their views freely in matters affecting them. Children’s ability to engage in political and public affairs depends largely on the extent to which their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
“Your government has the obligations to ensure and uphold the rights of Nigerian children including to life, liberty, education and development, as well as to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s sense of dignity and worth.
“Your government also has the obligation to provide a safe, enabling and empowering environment for young people to promote human rights.
“Your government has the obligations to promptly, thoroughly, impartially, independently, transparently and effectively investigate and appropriately punish those responsible for grave human rights abuses against the protesters in custody and to provide the victims with access to justice and effective remedies.
“Any decision concerning a child must take full account of the child’s best interests including by protecting the children from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and ensuring that the detention of a child is used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.
“The Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Nigeria is a state party recognizes that children are entitled to a heightened duty of care because of their special status as children, which requires specific measures that take into account their level of development and evolving capacities.
“The Convention and the Child Rights Act impose binding legal obligations on your government to take specific measures for the development of children taking account of their evolving capacities, best interests and without discrimination.
“Articles 37 (b) and 40 (2) (b) (ii) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child also provide that every child arrested and deprived of his or her liberty should be brought before a competent authority within 24 hours to examine the legality of the deprivation of liberty.
“SERAP notes that rules 1, 24, 27 and 118 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) provide that all persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, including by receiving appropriate medical care.
“Rule 22 of the Nelson Mandela Rules guarantees the right of all detained persons to receive food of wholesome quantity and drinking water.
“According to reports, 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters including 32 children, were recently arraigned in court for allegedly participating in the nationwide protests in August. The protesters, who have been in detention for three months, were reportedly arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja); as well as Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.
“Four children/young persons collapsed on the courtroom floor, writhing in pain before being removed to get medical help.
“The protesters were arraigned on 10 counts bordering on ‘treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny’. However, the protest was against economic hardship and poor governance, as protesters called for reduced governance costs, the reinstatement of petrol subsidy, and food security.”
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has launched another attack on former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of lying and double standards.
Onanuga made the remarks in a series of posts on X on Saturday titled “Deconstructing Peter Obi,” in which he shared excerpts from a recent response by the Anambra State Government to Obi.
In one of the posts, Onanuga wrote: “He is licensed to lie as he likes. His supporters love his lies.”
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He quoted the Anambra Government as accusing Obi of benefiting from what it described as “hypocrisy and multiple standards” in public discourse, particularly in the way his supporters respond when his claims are challenged.
The statement attributed to the state government also alleged that Obi had consistently criticised his predecessors and successors in Anambra while his media supporters continued to promote his political image.
Onanuga further quoted the government as saying that those close to Obi should advise him to stop what it described as lying “as a habit” in order to avoid being confronted with “inconvenient facts and truth.”
The Presidency aide also highlighted the political disagreement between Obi and Governor Chukwuma Soludo, particularly over their respective choices of political candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement he shared, Obi’s supporters accepted his decision to support candidates even when he was not on the ballot but criticised Soludo for exercising what the government described as the same political right.
Onanuga also turned his attention to Obi’s approach to governance, quoting the Anambra Government as arguing that “governance and development are different from trading.”
The statement criticised what it described as Obi’s emphasis on government savings and interest income, arguing that government performance should also be measured by improvements in security, welfare and the living conditions of citizens.
The latest comments come amid an escalating dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the financial record of his administration between 2006 and 2014.
The state government has alleged that Obi left behind outstanding external loans and other liabilities.
The government said records from the Debt Management Office showed eight external facilities associated with projects undertaken during his tenure, with $92.35 million still outstanding as of June 30, 2026.
Obi has rejected the allegations, saying he neither borrowed nor issued a bond for Anambra during his tenure and disputing the characterisation of the external financing as debts left by his administration.
The former governor has also called for issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 election, urging the media to focus political discourse on governance, security, unity and prosperity rather than character attacks and name-calling.
The Anambra State Government has released fresh details challenging former Governor Peter Obi’s claim that he left more than ₦2.13 billion in an ecological fund account before handing over power in 2014.
The state government made the disclosure in a statement released on Saturday, September 26, 2026, titled “Peter Obi’s Debts and Lies: More Questions Than Answers.”
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According to the statement, the account number cited by Obi as containing the ecological fund was actually the Anambra State Government’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Consolidated Account.
The government said First Bank, in a letter dated September 16, 2026, confirmed that account 2018779464 was an IGR account and not an ecological funds account.
It further claimed that as of March 17, 2014, the account balance was not close to ₦2 billion and that the account never recorded an inflow or balance of ₦2.13 billion throughout its active period between 2011 and 2018.
The state government consequently questioned the whereabouts of the money Obi said he left as an ecological fund.
The latest development follows Obi’s earlier defence of his administration’s financial record, in which he said the ₦2.13 billion was released for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion control project and was deliberately left for his successor to execute.
Obi had also maintained that the ecological fund was separate from the savings he said his administration left behind.
However, the Anambra Government also challenged Obi’s account of the state’s overall financial position at the time he left office.
It alleged that his handover document highlighted assets and savings while failing to adequately disclose outstanding liabilities.
The government claimed that the document included valuations for incomplete projects such as the Nnewi Shopping Mall, Onitsha Hotel and Agulu Lake Hotel.
It also alleged that a purported ₦10 billion Federal Government refund was included in the stated net balance even though the money had not been received before Obi left office.
On road infrastructure, the government said Obi’s administration had awarded and signed contracts for 101 roads covering 779 kilometres, with outstanding liabilities of about ₦127 billion at the time of handover.
The state government argued that such liabilities should be considered alongside the savings and assets attributed to the administration when assessing the financial position inherited by Obi’s successor.
The fresh statement has therefore reopened questions over the disputed ₦2.13 billion ecological fund and the broader financial position of Anambra State at the end of Obi’s administration.
While the Anambra Government says bank records support its latest position, Obi has continued to defend his administration’s financial record and his account of the ecological fund.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to prioritise regional unity, integration and engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
He made the call on Friday in New York, United States, while receiving the new ECOWAS Commission President, General Birame Diop (rtd), and his delegation on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
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Shettima urged the new ECOWAS leadership to prioritise regional integration and build stronger relationships among countries across West Africa.
“Beyond your administrative duties, your leadership of the commission must make deliberate efforts to build bridges of friendship across the sub-region. ECOWAS should be at the forefront of our engagement with emerging blocs in the area such as Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
“I urge ECOWAS under your leadership to champion the cause of regional integration and strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship among our people,” the Vice President said.
He also urged the commission to take private-sector participation seriously in the execution of the Lagos-Abidjan highway project.
Shettima congratulated Diop on his election, noting that he assumed office at a difficult time requiring greater synergy and cohesion among leaders and people of the sub-region.
The Vice President assured the new ECOWAS president of Nigeria’s continued cooperation and support, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to efforts aimed at transforming the regional body.
“My boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a man of honour and conviction who will always support efforts aimed at advancing the transformation of ECOWAS as a regional body, and the progress of the area in general,” Shettima said.
He added that Nigeria would continue to create an enabling environment for ECOWAS to succeed and contribute to the attainment of the vision and objectives set by its founding fathers.
Earlier, Diop commended Nigeria for its role in the establishment and sustenance of ECOWAS, as well as its sacrifices for the stability and prosperity of the sub-region.
He said the commission was facing challenges, including insecurity and lagging development, which required Nigeria’s intervention as a “big brother.”
The ECOWAS president described the organisation as a tool for regional stability that should be encouraged and supported, while urging other countries in the sub-region to cooperate with Nigeria towards achieving inclusive development and a better future for West Africans.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jimoh Ibrahim and senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission.
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