The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

  • Army condemns soldier to death for killing Boko Haram suspect

    Army condemns soldier to death for killing Boko Haram suspect

    A soldier of the Nigerian army is to die for killing a Boko Haram suspect illegally.

    The general court martial (GCM) of the army sitting at 7 Division, Maiduguri, Borno state Friday sentenced  Hilary Joel, a lance coporal, to death for the  murder of a suspected Boko Haram insurgent.

    The offence was committed in Damboa area of the state.

    President of the court martial,Brigadier General Olusegun Adeniyi,handed down the verdict Friday.

    Five other soldiers were punished for violation of human rights and other operational offences in Operation Lafiya Dole.

    One Sergeant Samuel Balanga was demoted to private on two count of desertion and miscellaneous offences.

    Chima Samuel was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment  for aiding and abetting the  murder of a minor Yakubu Isah in Maiduguri while Aliu Audu, a corporal, who was  charged for assault was reduced to the rank of private.

    Sunday Ogwuche, a trooper, was sentenced to two years and five years’ imprisonment for stealing and unlawful possession of 641 rounds of 7.62mm  .

    The acting zonal coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Borno State Jumai Mshelia witnessed the proceeding.

    She expressed delight that Nigerian Army has shown that it is a disciplined organisation .

     

  • NHRC faults Arewa’s ultimatum to Igbo

    NHRC faults Arewa’s ultimatum to Igbo

    …Seeks prosecution of culprits

     

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has faulted the reported statement credited to some Northern youths groups that all Igbo people residing in the northern part of the country should vacate before October 1st 2017.

    Acting Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah said, in a statement yesterday that the said  quit notice was provocative and a serious threat to national peace and security.

    She describe it as “a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians to reside, acquire and own immovable properties in any part of the country as guaranteed under section 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”

    In the statement issued by NHRC’s Principal Public Affairs Officer, Mebrim Uchechukwu, Mrs. Ovrawah was quoted as saying the statement credited to the Arewa youths  “amounts to hate speech and inciting comments with potential to ignite ethnic and religious violence which constitute a serious affront on human rights.”

    She urged all relevant security agencies as well as the Federal and the various state governments to be more vigilant and ensure the investigation of those behind the statement a view to bringing any offender to justice.

    Mrs. Ovrawah urge the various socio-political groups in the country to preach the message of peace, tolerance and human rights and eschew all forms of provocative statements that fan the embers of violence.

    She urged the members of the public to report any form of human rights violation to the Commission; and never to resort to self-help.

    Mrs. Ovrawah advised security agencies to be alert and nip in the bud, any form of public disturbance that might arise as result of the alleged quit notice so as to reinforce people’s confidence in the ability of the government to protect them.

     

  • Senate tasks IGP on upsurge in rape cases, sexual violence

    Senate tasks IGP on upsurge in rape cases, sexual violence

    Obviously worried by the upsurge in cases of rape and other sexual perversions in the land, the Senate has charged the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to speed up investigation and prosecution of such cases.

    The lawmakers urged the police authorities to ensure diligent prosecution of all cases of sexual abuse, violation and violence in line with the provisions of extant laws.

    The Senate also mandated it’s Committees on Health, Women Affairs and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to engage relevant stakeholders with a view to resolving pending cases of sexual violation across the country.

    In view of the trauma experienced by the victims, the senators further urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and paramilitary agencies to establish functional help desk to provide assistance and support to victims.

    The legislators also urged the courts to revisit the penalties prescribed for such offences, including domestic violence, with the view to giving offenders the appropriate and deserving punishment.

    The resolution followed a motion by the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah on the urgent need to address the alarming rate of rape and assault cases against women, children and other vulnerable persons in the country.

    Na’Allah bemoaned the frightening increase in cases of sexual violence in the country, particularly rape, regretting that many of the victims were usually children below the age of consent.

    He also noted that perpetrators of sexual crimes were mostly familiar neighbours, employers of labour and close family members known to the victims.

    The senator further pointed out that sex offenders constituted serious security threat to the larger segment of the society, saying that most of the cases are not getting media attention.

    He expressed concerned that the menace has continued to spread to every part of the country, recording male and female victims.

    According to him, poor prosecution and light convictions by the concerned authorities have worsened the situation, thereby portraying the country in very bad light.

    Senators Ali Wakili, Eyinnaya Abaribe, Ben Bruce and Biodun Olujimi who also contributed to the debate deplored the rise in sex related cases and called for stiffer penalties for offenders.

  • NHRC to honour human rights promoters

    NHRC to honour human rights promoters

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is to honour individuals and organisations that have excelled in the protection and promotion of human rights in the country.

    Prof. Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, said the potential honourees would be conferred with different categories of the commission’s Human Rights Awards on Dec. 10.    

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NHRC Human Rights Awards event is part of activities marking the 2016 Human Rights Day billed to hold on Dec. 10.

    To make the ceremony a success, the commission has appointed Abuja-based civil society organisation, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), as a partner in hosting the event.

    Angwe conveyed this decision in a letter dated Oct. 31, and addressed to the Executive Director of CASER, Mr Frank Tietie, in Abuja.

    According to the letter, CASER’s choice was informed by its “work and experience in the promotion of socio-economic rights in Nigeria’’.

    The organisation’s major responsibility under the partnership is to generate credible award recipients, who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the promotion of human rights.

    Tietie told NAN that the award nominees would be drawn from the results of a nationwide poll to be conducted by “a reputable polling service provider’’.  

    He explained that three nominees would be presented in each of the 10 award categories to a selection committee made up of representatives of civil society organisations and NHRC officials.

    One of the categories is `Improving Human Rights Record Award’ to be conferred on a government institution formerly indicted for human rights violations but has taken committed steps to improve its record. 

  • Army/Shiite clash: NHRC seeks prompt prosecution of El-Zakzaky, others

    Army/Shiite clash: NHRC seeks prompt prosecution of El-Zakzaky, others

    • Blames Kaduna govt, security agencies for uncertainty over number of dead, missing persons, lost assets

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to ensure prompt prosecution of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and members of his group found culpable for the December 2015 clash between them and men of the Nigerian Army.

    The clash witnessed in Kaduna between December 12 to 14, 2015 led to the death and displacement of yet to be determined number of people, with an unspecified number of property destroyed.

    NHRC also suggested the prosecution of members of the Nigerian Army found culpable for disproportionate and unreasonable use of force in violation of the Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct of the Nigerian Army during the clash.

    These formed part of the recommendations contained in a draft report of the NHRC’s investigation into the incident. The draft report prepared by a six-man Special Investigation Panel constituted by the commission, was presented to NHRC’s Executive Secretary in Abuja by its Chairman, Anthony Ojukwu.

    NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe, who commended the panel for a job well done, assured that the final report will be made public  later this year.

    The panel accused the group of being responsible for the immediate cause by blocking a public highway and refusing to yield way when the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff ran into the blockade created by members of IMN, who were armed and became “riotous and constitution an obstruction on the road.

    It recommended total ban, by the Federal, state and local governments, of the blockage of public roads for religious or other purposes like tax collection, social activities and others.

    The NHRC panel faulted the Kaduna State Government and unnamed law enforcement agents for its inability to ascertain the actual number of dead and missing persons, the cause of their death and the value of assets lost in the incident.

    It blamed the lack of “clear and conclusive evidence” about the dead on the hurried mass burial carried out by the state government without allowing specialists at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital to conduct the necessary examinations and tests of the corpses.

    It said the sudden withdrawal of the IMN in the activities of the panel made it impossible to answer questions relating to the number of its members’ death, their identity and the number of their property affected.

    The panel, which noted that the increasing involvement of the military in civil operations was not sustainable, suggested its discontinuation to avoid the increasing conflicts between the military and civil society.

    It called for the establishment of a fresh public inquiry, equipped with forensic and all other necessary support to ascertain the actual number of persons missing or dead and causes of such deaths, the proportionality and reasonableness of the response of the Nigerian Army to the aggression of the IMN during the incident.

    “The appropriate criminal prosecution for blocking the public highway by members of the IMN should be applied to the members and leadership of the IMN for failing to obey lawful directives when requested to do so by law enforcement officials.

    “The leader of IMN should be tried speedily for any offences (if any) established against him and his organisation in line with the Constitution. However, the issue of his continued detention and violation of his right to liberty are already subject of litigation before courts of competent jurisdiction and therefore subjudice,” it said.

    The panel recommended compensation for the dead and others, whose property were demolished by the state government. It urged both the Fed Govt and the Kaduna State to assume responsibility for the care and settlement of the medical bills of those injured in the incident, including El-Zakzaky and his group’s members.

    It said it was able to ascertain among others, that there was violation of the rights to life (of those who died), to freedom of movement (as it relates to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and those in his convoy, who were obstructed by the blockage created by members of the IMN) and to property (in relation to property of IMN members and others destroyed without due process).

    “The leadership and members and members of IMN were responsible for the abuse of the right to freedom of movement of the convoy of the COAS and other members of the public by blocking the public highway on December 12, 2-15.

    “There was the mass demolition of properties by the Kaduna State Government as a result of the incident, without due process, thereby violating the right to property of the victims. The Kaduna State Government did not give figures of numbers of dead persons to the SIP when it visited the state government to request for this and other information on the dead persons,” it said.

  • NHRC summons FCT’s CP for impeding investigation

    NHRC summons FCT’s CP for impeding investigation

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned the Commissioner of Police (CP) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Mustafa over alleged obstruction of its investigation into allegations of rights abuses.

    Mustapha is expected to appear before the commission today.

    The commission’s invitation to the Commissioner of Police, FCT was informed by the alleged denial of access, by some policemen, to some NHRC’s investigators who had gone to investigate allegations of rights abuses contained in a petition by members of Wuye Market Traders Association.

    Spokesperson of the commission, Uche Mebrim said, in a statement, that policemen from FCT Command denied the investigation team led by the Commission’s Director of Human Rights Monitoring, Tony Ojukwu access to the Wuye market despite explanations that the visit was a fact finding.

    He said the petition was received Wednesday by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe.

    The petition, he said contained allegation to the effect that the authorities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) dispossessed them of their shops despite giving them allocation papers and that in the process of protesting for their rights, they were manhandled by the Police.

    Mebrim said, after its encounter with policemen at the Wuye Market, the NHRC investigation team later went to Maitama Police Command, where some of the arrested traders were detained.

    He said the Area Commander, Abiodun Alamutu, who received the team, said there was a directive that nobody should access Wuye Market. He admitted that 20 men and four women were detained and later the four women were released while the men have been taken to court in Wuse, Abuja.

  • Lawyer petitions NHRC, IGP over arrest, detention of client

     

     

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase and the chairman Police Service Commission (PSC), have been petitioned by a lawyer, Chuka Obele Chuka, following the unlawful arrest and detention of his client Ifeanyi Agazie.

    Though, the suspect had been released, but the counsel alleged that he had been summoned again to report at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ogun state after the Anambra state police commissioner had released him on bail.

    Agazie a student of federal polytechnic Nkekde, Imo state, it was gathered was arrested by the (SARS) in Ogun in May, 2016 when he visited a factory where he worked two years ago as casual.

    His visit to the place, Chuka claimed in his petition, was to solicit for educational assistance from the owner of the company, but he ended up being assaulted and bundled into an unmarked bus hired by the team of policemen.

    During his arrest, the policemen had allegedly, seized his wallet said to contain the sum of 1,300 naira. ATM card and West African examination council scratch card from the suspect.

    However, the counsel was urging the IGP and the NHRC to direct the federal (SARS) to withdraw the said invitation as according to him, it constitutes a continuous infraction of his clients’ right under the constitution of the land, adding, he had no business going back to Abeokuta.

    Already, the matter had been taken to Ihiala High Court in suit No. HIH/MISC.618/2016 where Justice J.I Nweze gave orders that the suspect’s properties should be returned to him by the policemen who arrested him.

    Also, the court ordered that the respondents (Police) are hereby restrained from arresting or detaining the applicant on the basis of the same facts and complaints which gave rise to the suit, pending the determination of the suit.

    But Chuka Obele Chuka, had raised the alarm that the invitation of the suspect to Abeokuta in Ogun state by the (SARS) was to flout the court order, which according to him had become the norm in police quarters.

  • NHRC plans database for displaced, missing Nigerians

    NHRC plans database for displaced, missing Nigerians

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated plan for the creation of a database of Nigerians displaced, dead and missing from the activities of insurgent groups in the country.

    The initiative, which involved other relevant agencies of the Federal Government, but co-ordinated by the NHRC, is intended to enable government’s on-ongoing efforts at addressing the challenges created by the activities of the insurgents.

    NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe said this in Abuja Thursday, while addressing a “roundtable for the establishment of database of missing persons in Nigeria.”

    He said about 1.8 million Nigerians have so far been documented as missing, while many more are yet to be accounted for since insurgent activities commenced in the country

    Angwe blamed the absence of accurate records of Nigerians for the difficulty being experienced in identifying Nigerian victims of insurgency and differentiating them from citizens of other neighbouring countries.

    “We were talking about the missing 200 and something school girls without knowing that thousands of others were kidnapped and were being held by the Boko Haram insurgents until the military recently freed many.

    “It was not until the military, in their efforts to repress the activities of the insurgents that Nigerians got to know that thousands of Nigerians, particularly, women and children were in the hands of these insurgents.

    “Even today, as we speak, we still have several Nigerians that we cannot account for.

    “Our inability to account for Nigerians, who are either in the hands of the insurgents or who have died in their search for refuge, or who may have been killed as a result of the activities of the insurgents is a problem.

    “How do we begin to talk about displaced people when we do not have data, when we do not have statistics and we do not have records?

    “As a country, it is very important that we demonstrate the value we place on the lives of Nigerians. It is unfortunate that in the country today, we don’t have record of birth and we don’t also have an exact record of death.

    “It therefore becomes difficult to give account. And when we are confronted with a situation such as the insurgency activities being witnessed now in some parts of the country,” Angwe said.

    The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) commended the initiative by the NHRC for the establishment of a robust and credible database for missing persons affected by the activities of insurgency and other criminal acts.

    Represented by a Special Assistant,Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu,  Osinbajo assured the commission of Fed Govt’s support.

  • Alleged travel ban: Fayose petitions NHRC, UN, others

    Alleged travel ban: Fayose petitions NHRC, UN, others

    Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over claim that the Federal Government has placed travel ban on him.

    The petition filed on his behalf by the state’s House of Assembly also complained about the alleged refusal of an agent of the Fed Govt, the Department of State Services (DSS) to obey a Federal High Court judgment, ordering it to pay N5 million damages on the illegal arrest and detention for 18 days of a member of the House, Afolabi Akanni.

    The National Assembly, Amnesty International, Embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom were also copied with the petition.

    Fayose had recently written to Chinese government, urging it to refuse financial aid to the Nigerian government.

    The petition signed by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole, was submitted Tuesday in Abuja, to NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Professor Bem Angwe, who assured that his commission will investigate the petition.

    The Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Segun Adewumi who submitted the petition, was accompanied by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan and Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr Samuel Omotoso.

    The petition reads; “We write to bring to your attention another impending infringement on the rights of the Governor of our State, Mr Ayodele Fayose and by extension the entire Ekiti by the Federal Government.

    “A few weeks ago, our governor was reliably informed that President Mohammadu Buhari had directed that he should be banned from traveling outside Nigeria. This reliable information was to be confirmed through reports in two major national dailies on Sunday, May 29, 2016 titled; ‘2 govs under watch, face travel

    “From our findings, one of the governors being referred to is our own governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose and we wish to state like we have always done that we, the members of Ekiti State House of Assembly are with the governor on everything that he does.

    “Even ordinary Nigerians do not require clearance from the Department of State Services (DSS) or any security agency to travel outside Nigeria unless in compliance with court order, and as at today, there is no court order placing travel restriction on our governor, Ayodele Fayose. Issues concerning Governor Fayose cannot even be entertained in any court by virtue of the immunity he enjoys as provided in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “We however know as always that this latest plot is as a result of our governor’s critical stance on President Mohammadu Buhari’s government and its anti-people’s policies, and we make bold to say that no amount of intimidation, harassment and oppression will cowed the governor from exercising his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and to hold opinions as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

    “We are aware that this is coming as a result of the failure of the President Buhari led APC government’s plot to use the DSS to coerce the House of Assembly members into the plot of removing the governor.

    “We are also aware that plot to out-rightly take the governor ‘out of circulation’ cannot be ruled out as those advising President Buhari are said to be of the opinion that our governor has become a threat to his (Buhari) re-election bid and that everything must be done to ‘whip the governor to line’ before 2018.

    “Going by the antecedents of the President Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria and the DSS under the President’s kinsman, Alhaji Lawal Daura, it is certain that there is nothing that cannot be attempted, no matter how unlawful.

    “It should be recalled that this same DSS invaded the hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly in our State, abducted our member, Hon Afolabi Akanni and kept him in detention for 18 days without access to anyone. Even when the court ordered that he should be released, the order was ignore. Up till today, no explanation was given for this arrest and detention.

    “It should also be recalled that on April 20th, 2016, the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, in Suit No. FHC/AD/CS/7/2016 ordered the DSS to pay a sum of N5 million to Hon Afolabi Akanni as damages for what the court termed unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional infringement of his fundamental rights. Up till today, that judgment has not been obeyed by the DSS.

    “It is therefore on the premise of display of arrogance and contempt for the laws of the country by the DSS under President Buhari that we elected to bring this latest plot to place Governor Ayodele Fayose on travel ban to your attention.

    “It is worrisome that the federal government will consider the idea of compelling a sitting governor in Nigeria that enjoys Constitutional Immunity like the President to obtain clearance from the Director General DSS, who is an appointee of the President before travelling out of Nigeria.

    “This to us is an affront on the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) more so that States, as federating units in Nigeria are not under the Federal Government, which itself is also a State and not superior to other federating units.

    “Section 35 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that; ‘Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty,’ Section 39 (1) provides that; ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference,’ while Section 41 (1) provides that ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.’

    “Article 13 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory provides that “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the border of each State while Article 13 (2) provides that ‘Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country,’ ditto Article 12 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    “By provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, ordinary Nigerians do not require clearance from the DSS or any security agency to travel outside Nigeria unless travel restriction is placed by an order of the court, not to talk of State Governors that enjoy immunity just like the President and are not under the control of the President.

    “Our question is; if Governor Fayose has become a threat to the security of Nigeria just because he criticises President Buhari and says the truth about his mis-governance of the country, what happens to Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which provided for freedom of expression and freedom to hold opinions?

    “Most importantly, under a federal system of government, the states and national government both enjoy some autonomy, with sovereign power formally divided between the national government and the States such that each State retains some degree of control over its internal affairs.

    “However, it appears that the laws of Nigeria are not important to the President Mohammadu Buhari led government and it has become once again necessary that webring your attention to yet, another plot to subvert our rights as a State.

    “We wish to recall that in 1984 when President Buhari was a military Head of State, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was prevented from travelling outside Nigeria for medical treatment, thereby leading to his (Awolowo) untimely death in 1987.

    “The international passports of late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; late Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero and late Obi of Onitsha, Ofala Akulalia Alphonsus Ogugua were also seized and they were restricted to their palaces just because they travelled to Israel for business.

    “We therefore wish to state on behalf of Governor Ayodele Fayose that as an opposition figure, he cannot be cowed by this pettiness from the presidency.”

    Angwe commended members of the House of Assembly for their commitment to the sustenance of rule of law in the country and cooperation with the executive arm of government in Ekiti State.

  • Over 8,000 people trafficked annually in Nepal- NHRC

    Over 8,000 people trafficked annually in Nepal- NHRC

    National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday revealed that more than 8,000 Nepalese citizens were trafficked annually in Nepal.

    Unveiling a national report, NHRC claimed that over 16,000 citizens, mostly women and children were trafficked in the past two fiscal years – 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015.

    However, it has been found that quite lower numbers of trafficking cases were reported in Nepal Police.

    Only 185 ‘trafficking in persons’ cases were registered between 2013 and 2014, whereas only 181 cases were registered from 2014 to 2015.

    “The key reason is under-reporting and under-registration of human trafficking cases, including an overlap in measures of Foreign Employment Act and the Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Act,’’ it stated.

    The report claimed that the number of the interception of the vulnerable persons had increased after the earthquake, an increase by no less than 15 per cent before and after three months of the earthquake.

    More than 1,200 women and children went missing in spite of the fact that the government of Nepal has brought various acts.

    According to the reports, the victims do not have access to justice for the prevention and control of trafficking.

    The study showed that in terms of destination of trafficking, the majority of victims were being trafficked to India, but that there were also cases of internal trafficking and trafficking to the Gulf States.

    Trafficking route is reported to be the main official border points with India and China.

    It said that trafficking of girls to South Korea and China for the purpose of marriage is also growing in Nepal.

    “Data reveal that trafficking takes place for multiple purposes, especially for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and other purposes such as marriage and illegal organ extraction,’’ the report states.

    Records showed that most of the trafficking cases were from eastern districts of Jhapa and Morang, whereas most of the victims belonged to indigenous nationalities.