Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has condemned the recent treason charges filed against minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August, where some participants were seen carrying Russian flags. The children, who voiced opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, were arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sparking nationwide backlash. Although the charges were eventually dropped on humanitarian grounds, Falana argues that hoisting foreign flags is not a criminal offense under Nigerian law, pointing out that hotels and religious institutions regularly display international flags without repercussion.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana stressed that the children’s protest, including their demand for the president’s removal, should not have been seen as treasonous. He argued that, rather than prosecuting protesters, the government should address the issues that drove citizens to demonstrate.
“The government ought to have responded to the concerns raised by the protesters, not treat their expressions as a crime,” Falana asserted, further commending the Nigerian armed forces for reaffirming their loyalty to democratic governance.
