Drama as malnourished underaged protesters collapse in Abuja High Court during arraignment

Mild drama unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday morning, November 1, when several teenagers arraigned by the Nigeria Police fainted, reportedly due to hunger.

The defendants, primarily teenagers, are being charged with 10 counts of t£rrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny for their participation in the End Bad Governance protest that occurred from August 1st to 10th.

One of the defense lawyers, Marshall Abubakar, disclosed that the defendants were charged in two batches of 76 and 49.

However, few minutes after the first batch was called, the defendants were mounting the dock when some of them suddenly collapsed, causing confusion in court, a development that made the judge to suspend proceedings.

“A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment, they haven’t eaten for some days,” a source said.