Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has issued a scathing critique of the country’s justice system following the detention of 76 minors for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Comparing the current Nigerian justice system to that of apartheid-era South Africa, Sowore condemned the bail conditions set by Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja as impossibly high and inhumane.

Justice Egwuatu’s bail terms require each minor to pay a 10-million-naira bond and secure two sureties.

One of these sureties must be a civil servant of at least grade level 15 with a verifiable Abuja address, while the other must be a parent of the child.

Sowore criticized these conditions as unreasonable and argued they effectively guarantee that the minors will remain in detention.

“There is no way they could individually meet these inhuman bail conditions,” Sowore declared, adding that the government’s actions amount to an unjust punishment of minors for exercising their right to protest.

The case has brought Nigeria’s justice system under intense public scrutiny, with many arguing that these bail conditions disproportionately impact vulnerable citizens.

Observers say the minors’ families, like many Nigerians, are already struggling with high inflation, unemployment, and other economic pressures.

For them, finding 10 million naira for bail—let alone securing a senior-level civil servant as surety—is nearly impossible.

Critics have pointed out that these requirements, intended to ensure accountability, are more likely to perpetuate inequality by penalizing those who cannot afford them.

The #EndBadGovernance protests that led to the arrests reflect a growing sense of frustration among Nigerians, particularly youth, over the country’s mounting economic challenges and persistent security issues.

Participants in the protests demanded accountability, better governance, and a system that protects the rights and welfare of citizens, including access to basic services, jobs, and security.

By arresting these young protesters, many argue that the government is attempting to stifle this movement, rather than addressing the root causes driving public discontent.

Rights organizations and activists, including Sowore, are calling for the immediate review of the charges and a reassessment of the bail terms.

Many argue that these minors should not be facing a court system intended for hardened criminals, especially when their actions stem from a desire for a better Nigeria.

The harsh bail terms have been described as an affront to the rights and protections guaranteed to minors under Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act of 2003.

Section 11 of the Act specifically safeguards children against any form of mental, physical, or emotional harm, neglect, or abuse.

Yet, in this case, activists argue, the judicial system itself appears to be the source of that harm