A wave of public outcry has erupted following two recent court rulings that many Nigerians feel highlight stark disparities in the judicial system.
On one hand, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja recently set bail at N10 million each for 67 minors arrested during August’s #EndBadGovernance protests.
These children, reportedly under the age of 15, had been detained for their participation in demonstrations sparked by economic hardships.
Meanwhile, a separate ruling saw a Nigerian lawmaker, Alex Ikwechegh, granted bail for N500,000 after he allegedly assaulted a Bolt driver in Abuja. Viral footage captured Ikwechegh slapping the driver three times, refusing to pay for services rendered, and threatening to make the driver “disappear” by using his influence as a government official.
The stark difference in bail terms has triggered widespread criticism across social media platforms. One netizen questioned the logic behind the rulings, writing, “N10m bail each. A judge passed that on the bail of minors FOR protesting. Then a judge passed N500k bail on an adult who threatened to kidnap and disappear another human. Is Nigeria a country?”
https://x.com/novieverest/status/1852432139171602467?t=E_QSljDYDVP_KkVKHj00HQ&s=19
These contrasting cases have stirred frustrations among Nigerians, with many accusing the judicial system of favoring powerful individuals over ordinary citizens, especially children who were simply exercising their rights to peaceful protest. The public’s anger has been compounded by disturbing reports that some of the detained minors appeared in court malnourished and struggling to stand, suggesting harsh conditions during their detention.
The bail conditions imposed on the minors include providing a civil servant as surety, a challenging requirement for most of their families. The perceived inequality in treatment has reignited discussions about the nation’s judicial practices, the influence of power in court proceedings, and the urgent need for reforms to ensure fairness and justice for all citizens, regardless of age or status.
The contrasting judgments have raised pressing questions about justice in Nigeria, with some citizens and rights groups calling on the judiciary to re-evaluate practices that they argue seem to punish the vulnerable while enabling those in power to evade accountability.
