in an interview with Arise News from 9:54, Kenneth Okonkwo, Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, analyzed the charges against minors arrested for participating in the August 2024 protests. He questioned why carrying foreign flags would be considered a crime, pointing out that during his university days, people in Nigeria flew Libyan flags in solidarity when America bombed Libya.
He invoked Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that no one should be charged with an offense unless it is clearly defined by written law. Okonkwo emphasized that simply preferring military rule over civilian rule does not constitute an offense unless there is concrete evidence of an attempt or conspiracy to overthrow the Government through force, which would then justify charges of treasonable felony.
In his words;
“What’s the offence about flying Foreign flags in Nigeria. When I was in the University, I recalled when America bombed Libya, we were flying Libyan flags in Nigeria. Section 36, subsection 12 of the Nigerian constitution is very clear, you cannot charge anybody of any crime except it’s prescribed in a written law. So what’s the crime about carrying Foreign flags. You say they are crying that they should have Military intervention. Let me make it clear, If I say I prefer Military Rule To Civilian Rule, It’s not an offense. You must prove that I’ve attempted to overthrow the Government or I’m conspiring with people to overthrow the Government forcefully before you can even begin to think about treasonable felony.”
