"Our Democracy has degraded to this barbaric depth?" Oby Ezekwesili reacts as malnourished minor detained during protest slump in court (videos)

Economy expert, Oby Ezekwesili, is questioning how low our democracy has sunk to the point that the Nigerian Judiciary is allowing the "violations of the rights of minors". 

The former minister of education spoke in response to a video that has shocked Nigerians. 

The video, shared on X, shows minors, who were arrested during the August 1 - 10 End Bad Governance protest being arraigned in court. 
After almost three months in detention, the minors looked emaciated. One minor collapsed in court while the other minors are seen crying and in distress as they were docked. 

 

The caption to the video shared by investigative journalist Abiodun Sanusi read: "Abuja judge flee courtroom as malnourished minors detained for three months over #EndBadGovernance protests slump." 

 

In the video, those in court are heard questioning the treatment of the protesters. 

"How can you arraign minors?" someone was heard saying in the video 

 

Reacting, Oby Ezekwesili, who advocates for good governance and human capital development, wrote: "Really? What exactly is this? Our Democracy has degraded to this barbaric depth? 

"The bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and that means we have to have an independent judiciary, judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing.
~~Caroline Kennedy 

"How did the Nigerian Constitution become so useless that the Nigerian Judiciary  @njcNig could allow such violations of the rights of these minors to happen at such egregious levels? 

"The NBA @NigBarAssoc , where are you? 

"What exactly is this, our dear Chief Justice of Nigeria? Can we the Citizens of Nigeria count on you for a clean sweep of this version of our Judiciary? 

"These children must be swiftly released to their parents and guardians, and adequately compensated for the damages done them by the Nigerian State @NGRPresident @NigeriaGov." 

 

She also called out Tinubu, writing: ".@officialABAT Here is the sordid evidence of the @NigeriaGov punishing your citizens for daring to tell you the truth of #BadGovernance by your administration. 

"No one can ever solve a Problem they deny and refuse to own. No one. 

"Agitation to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria is shared by overwhelming majority of your citizens. For real. 

"How many of your Citizens can you take to court like done to these minors? 

"How many of your Citizens can you detain and deprive of their freedoms like done to these minors? 

"Hear me. 

"No ruler has ever won against their people forever. Check history. 

"Note that I wrote ruler and not leader. 

"The repressive class of politicians in Nigeria are not leaders. You all have serially failed the “test of leadership” because you act as wicked rulers who feel entitled to the “publicly-funded luxurious life” while repressing and pauperizing the citizens. 

"Second, @officialABAT , the evident corrupted capture of our Judiciary by the @NigeriaGov is playing out daily on Candid Camera before the eyes of the world. 
The trial of these minors is one of many examples these days. 

"Stop the wicked prosecution of these minors immediately and send the children back to their parents and guardians. 

"Next, ensure that they are compensated for the physical, mental, emotional and overall psychological damage you have done to them by abusing the powers of the Nigerian State and grossly violating their constitutional rights. 

"When those children came out to protest asking you to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, they were telling you the “Truth and nothing but the Truth”. 

"I hope you start listening to what majority of your Citizens especially these children are telling you daily: “Ebi npawa” , “we are hungry”. 

"Nothing lasts forever. Today is not Forever."

 

 

 

Watch the videovideos from court below.