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Tag: NHRC

  • Group petitions NHRC over alleged Boko Haram members held in Abia

    Group petitions NHRC over alleged Boko Haram members held in Abia

    A group, the Jigawa Forum, has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the continued detention of some northerners arrested recently by security agents in Abia State on suspicion of being members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The group is demanding the immediate release or prosecution of the detainees, who are “mainly indigenes of Jigawa, Kano and Bauchi states.

    NHRC’s Chief Press Officer, Mrs Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, said in a statement yesterday that the commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe, while receiving the petition on Thursday, urged security agents to be cautious in their conduct.

    Angwe commended members of the group, led by Alhaji Ahmed Wanga, for not taking the laws into their hands, but chose to approach the commission which would ensure that the rights of the detained persons are enforced in line with its mandate.

    The NHRC boss described the current insecurity in the country as unfortunate and disturbing. He advised the security operatives “not to hide under the cover of security to infringe on the rights of the citizens,” and urged Nigerians to support the security agencies in their bid to combat insurgency.

    He also urged the security agencies to ensure that arrested persons are subjected to a screening process to separate those who for justifiable reasons are suspects, from those going about their normal business, since there cannot be a collective punishment.

    Angwe argued that every Nigerian is entitled to the right to freedom of movemen and that any attempt to breach this constitutional provision constitutes a setback to democracy.

    He urged the relevant authorities to ensure that no citizen is detained unduly.

  • Probe arms proliferation in Ekiti, rights group urges IG

    Probe arms proliferation in Ekiti, rights group urges IG

    The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, has been urged to probe the source of illegal weapons in the hands of non-state actors in Ekiti State.

    In a statement yesterday, the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) said rallies held by some parties were characterised by open display of weapons by young civilians.

    The statement was signed by the NHRC’s Southwest Coordinator, Mr. Habib Falua.

    The NHRC, a coalition of 136 civil rights groups drawn from across the country, has been in Ekiti for three weeks to monitor processes leading to the June 21 governorship election.

    The group described the situation as a “red alert” and urged the IG to investigate the alleged arming of young people by politicians.

    It said: “We have received several reports from residents and locals who are alarmed at the rate of proliferation of arms in rallies organised by political parties linked with the Federal authorities.”

    NHRC said armed young men recruited by politicians torment the local population with arrogance and contempt for the democratic election, adding that the non-collection of over 250,000 voter cards by locals may not be unconnected with the growing public resentment against the election “because its outcome seems predetermined by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”.

    It said the armed gangs move from town to town, dropping the name of President Goodluck Jonathan as their godfather and boasting that the election has been worn by the PDP before the contest.

    The group said: “This is a dangerous trend. The President needs to distance himself from this display of open horror. It is worrisome. It may be easy to win an election, but politicians should worry more on how to sustain the peace.

    “The country cannot end the orgy of violence when democratic expressions are suppressed at gun point by officials expected to defend the people.”

    The group said Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s description of the election as war has compounded the situation, adding: “Parents are complaining that their wards are being armed by the ruling party in Abuja. The youths display these weapons openly.”

    It said while the President is mobilising the international community to stem terrorism, some of his critics think his domestic policies appear to encourage state-sponsored terror against Nigerians, “which is certain to fuel rage and bitterness”.

     

  • Ex-Governor Osunbor faults NHRC on electoral offences

    Ex-Governor Osunbor faults NHRC on electoral offences

    Former Edo State Governor Prof Osereheimen Osunbor has faulted his alleged indictment for electoral offences by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its recommendation to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    In a statement issued yesterday, Osunbor rejected the NHRC’s report. He said he had written the commission to demand its confirmation or denial of the report and published in the newspapers.

    “The purpose of the letter as I indicated was to get a confirmation from the Commission whether or not the recommendation as contained in the newspaper reports actually emanated from them; to demand a copy of the report forwarding my name to the AGF for prosecution and to know the specific offence or offences for which the commission has recommended me for prosecution,” he said.

    Osunbor said the one week ultimatum he gave the NHRC had since lapsed, but that it was yet to reply him.

    “One week has now elapsed and I have not received any reply from the Commission neither has the commission issued any denial of the reports and recommendation to the AGF ascribed to it. It has therefore become incumbent on me to issue this statement to give my own position lest unwary members of the public are misled to view me as a criminal because of this cruel assault on my hard earned reputation and violation of my human rights through a baseless so-called “indictment” by the NHRC.

    “ Let me start by affirming that I have never in my life committed any criminal offence, whether an electoral offence or any other offence. I have never been invited or summoned by the police or any other law enforcement agency. I have never been investigated or charged with any criminal offence not even by the NHRC. All my life I have conducted myself in an upright manner.”

     

  • Apo Killings: DSS faults NHRC’s report

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has faulted the report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which indicted the security agency‎ in the killing of eight squatters at the Legislative Quarters in Apo district, Abuja, last year.

    It has given the commission a one month pre-action notice after which it intends to head for court and challenge the report.

    The DSS’s pre-action notice is contained in the letter to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, written pursuant to section 18(3) of the NHRC (Amendment) Act.

    In the letter written by its lawyer, Solo Akuma (SAN), the DSS said it was dissatisfied with the commission’s recommendations and award and had therefore decided to seek a judicial review of the report.

    The DSS said it intended to ask the court to quash the ‎recommendations and the award.

    It argued that NHRC was biased, lacked the jurisdiction to determine the subject matter, failed to observe rules of fair hearing and committed errors of law on the face of the record.

    The DSS said it intend to head for the Federal High Court, where it hopes to pray for among others, an order of certiorari to bring the commission’s report to the court for the purpose of its being quashed.

    Eight squatters were killed on September 20, 2013 while 11 others were injured when security operatives stormed an uncompleted building at Apo.

    The DSS had claimed after the incident that those killed were members of the Boko Haram sect, a claim some groups contested and petitioned the NHRC for investigation.

     

  • Ayoka, Osunbor: Group urges AGF to act on NHRC’s recommendation

    Ayoka, Osunbor: Group urges AGF to act on NHRC’s recommendation

    A group, the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) yesterday praised the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for its recommendation that some individuals be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for alleged violation of electoral laws

    It urged the AGF to take up the challenge and ensure that those indicted are actually prosecuted to serve as deterrent for others.

    The NHRC had in a recommendation to the AGF, reported by the media yesterday, suggested the prosecution of some 41 people including former Edo State Governor, Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor and an Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Ayoka Adebayo be prosecuted for election related offences.

    NOPRIN, in a statement yesterday, said it “believes that the only way to check impunity for crime and human rights abuse is to ensure that those indicted are tried under relevant laws and borough to account.

    “This will create deterrence and send a strong message to perpetrators that crime and abuse will no more be tolerated and those who commit them will no longer be protected by impunity.

    The group, in the statement by its National Coordinator, Okechukwu Nwanguma, argued that electoral offences by those, who ought to prevent them particularly, electoral officials and law enforcement agents deny Nigerians their right to participate in governance.

    “Reform of our electoral system will not work unless those who subvert electoral laws are punished as deterrence.

    “This is coming at a most auspicious time when elections are around the corner. Acting on the NHRC’s recommendations is necessary to send a clear warning to the indicted and other intending electoral offenders that the days of impunity are over.

    “NOPRIN therefore, calls on the AGF to prioritise the sanctity and integrity of our electoral system by acting promptly and courageously on the recommendations of the NHRC.

    “The AGF should ensure the immediate arraignment and prompt trial of all those indicted in the overall interest of Nigerians,” it said.

  • NHRC on ‘Apo eight’

    NHRC on ‘Apo eight’

    •Security forces should pay fine or appeal verdict

    National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) indictment of the security agents who carried out an operation that led to the death of eight squatters in the Apo district of Abuja in 2013, is a serious matter; it should not be swept under the carpet. We have had too many cases of extra-judicial killings in the country and it is high time we started punishing the culprits.

    The eight persons were killed in an uncompleted building in the Apo district on September 20, last year, when security agents, comprising operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) and the army stormed the place, ostensibly to arrest an alleged Boko Haram leader, Suleiman R-Kelly, said to have buried arms in the Apo Cemetery. The SSS was later to say that the eight were killed when suspected Boko Haram members in the building opened fire on the troops, who had no choice than to retaliate in self-defence.

    The NHRC however decided to conduct a public hearing into the matter when members of the National Association of Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS) said the slain men were its members and that the attack was unprovoked. A panel of the NHRC, including the chairman of its governing council, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, and the executive secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe, took submissions from parties involved in the matter, including the SSS, the army and NATOMORAS members.

    The panel rejected the submission of the security agents that the eight men were killed in self-defence., “They were, therefore, protected, civilian non-combatants, the NHRC said.” It added that “Taking account of all the circumstances in this case, the application of lethal force was disproportionate and the killings of the eight deceased as well as injuries to the eleven survivors were unlawful.”

    It is gratifying that the commission was able to see the case to a logical conclusion. There have been too many cases of summary executions by almost all segments of our military personnel as well as the police that never went beyond being reported in the media and we moved on as if such was the norm rather than the exception. Many of such incidents involving especially the police had been attributed to accidental discharge. We cannot continue to condone such wanton killings of innocent Nigerians, especially by those paid to protect them.

    For sure, the era of the ‘unknown soldier’ is gone; those who released the shots that killed the Apo eight’ must be fished out. The killings fell short of our expectations from our military, especially in a democratic dispensation. It is therefore not enough to order the Federal Government to pay N135m as compensation to the victims – including N10m for each of the deceased persons, as well as N5m to each of 11 injured survivors; as the commission recommended; the individuals involved must be identified and stripped of their institutional garb. They must be made to account for their actions.

    We commend the NHRC for rising to the occasion by conducting a public hearing into the matter in line with its constitutional mandate. We also commend it for making it known that the security agents did not have the right to banish the other squatters who were arrested during the operation, and ‘banished’ from the Federal Capital Territory. “There is no basis in law for confining detainees freed by the respondents to internal banishment,” the commission said. The point must be made that no one, including our military, has the right to kill extra-judicially or be trigger-happy. As things stand, the security agencies should appeal the decision or pay the fines and release the culprits for necessary trials in our law courts.

  • NHRC, Apo killings and the Nigerian Army

    NHRC, Apo killings and the Nigerian Army

    After what it described as extensive investigations into the killing of eight members of the National Association of Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS) by a combined team of soldiers and secret service agents in Abuja, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has concluded that the victims were in fact not members of the Boko Haram sect. The secret service had claimed the victims were terror suspects and had called on the Army for back-up in flushing them out of the uncompleted building in the Apo/Gudu exclusive part of the Federal Capital City (FCT) where they were taking shelter. The NHRC directed that the government should pay hefty compensations to the victims, living or dead. In addition, it suggested an urgent review and harmonisation of the security agencies’ rules of engagement in order to eliminate the kind of error and gross violation of human rights that occurred in Abuja in September last year.

    It is not clear what kind of challenge the military and the State Security Service (SSS) would mount against the NHRC report. But a military spokesman has argued that forensic examination was required to establish the guilt of the Army. Whatever challenges are mounted, however, are unlikely to erase the widely held suspicion that the security agencies did in fact use more force than was necessary in either evicting or arresting the NATOMORAS squatters. When the incident happened, and given the account of the spokesperson of the SSS, the public had called for investigations on the premise that many of the accounts of the killings, or what the security agents called exchange of fire, did not quite jell. The investigations have finally yielded fruit.

    The efforts of NHRC must be commended. The outcome of the panel’s report is likely to reinforce public confidence that Nigeria can be made to work, and that when there is a fault somewhere, the inbuilt corrective mechanisms can step in. For a long time, the security agencies have not been quite as successful in dealing with infractions within their folds as the public would wish. There have been too many attempts to cover up atrocities in order, in the logic of the security agencies, not to denude the image of the security organisations or call to question the competence of the officer corps in the various services. The security agencies should see the NHRC report as a call for urgent reforms not only of the rules of engagement, but also in the general running of the organisations and their responsiveness to security and public relations issues. If they have good grounds to challenge the NHRC report, the Army can go ahead and do so. Otherwise, they should let bad enough alone and seek for more professional and less emotive ways of doing their jobs.

    Sometimes organisations, whether security or regular, have behaved quite awkwardly in reforming themselves, especially when their leadership is shorn of the right ethical values and are too incompetent to envision great heights to which they must aspire. The country’s political leaders have a huge role to play here. They must create the right environment to engender the right leadership for the various security organisations in the country. Had this been done, for instance, it would have been unlikely for the military in the 1990s to tolerate generals like Sani Abacha, let alone foster the conditions that propelled him into power undeservingly.

  • Killings: NHRC seeks relocation of Unity Schools’ students

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has suggested a temporary relocation of pupils of the eight Unity Schools in the three troubled Northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to other schools outside the region.

    The commission’s position is informed by incessant killings of school children in the states by the Boko Haram sect, particularly the reported killing, on Monday, of 29 pupils at the Federal Government College, (FGC) Buni-Yadi.

    In statement on Wednesday, the, NHRC’s Chairman, Chidi Odinkalu, described the development as alarming and saddening. He urged both political and religious leaders in the region to speak up and take actions to discourage violence in the area.

    Odinkalu urged the government to implement existing reports on how to ensure peace in the region.

    “There is no way to minimize the shock and tragedy of these events. The perpetrators clearly do not wish Nigeria well. Words are not enough to condemn them and their conduct. To the parents of the affected children, words are equally insufficient comfort or condolence. This is every parent’s worst nightmare. Condolences are also due to the Government and People of Yobe State and to the Federal Government.

    “Education is a basic right guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “These children were pursuing this right when they were killed. The pursuit of education cannot be cause for the mass murder of innocent children.”

     

  • Help, my rights are being violated

    SIR: May I use your widely-read medium to appeal to the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights and the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to officially acknowledge the receipt of the petition I mailed separately to them. When I called the House Committee Secretary, Mr. Ado Abdul Sule (08065276836), earlier to inquire about the processes involved in submitting public petitions to the committee, he asked me to mail the petition to the NHRC and I promptly did.

    I duly mailed the petition alongside all relevant documents to the House Committee on Human Rights and the Zonal South West Office of the NHRC via DHL Express. The sworn affidavit was accompanied with a cover letter in each case, explaining my complaints and prayers. I equally provided my email for official acknowledgement of the receipt of the petition. The mails were appropriately delivered and acknowledged verbally. Similarly, I sent a text message and also called Mr. Ado Sule who confirmed verbally that the mail was received. I appealed to him that I would appreciate if the receipt of the mail is officially acknowledged.

    The official acknowledgement of a public petition makes it clear to the petitioner that the presented case would be looked into. Similarly, the petitioner should be provided with information on progress being made on the petition. We must begin to show our citizens that they are duly respected and counted worthy by agencies established to protect their rights. This is the only way other nationals will begin to respect us and the culture of impunity will gradually become a thing of the past in our polity.

    I have lived in the United States of America for a few years and my rights were never violated even as an international student. However, right in my homeland, my fundamental human rights were not only trampled upon but grossly violated and sustained with an orchestrated blackmail. The observed anomalies have continued without being resolved. This is the basis for appealing to the House committee and the NHRC to come to my aid and help protect my rights as a Nigerian citizen. Once again, I urge both bodies to officially acknowledge the receipt of my petition and act appropriately by investigating my complaints.

     

    •Akinlolu, Abdulazeez Adelaja

    University of Ilorin

     

  • Nigerian laws encourage rape of children, says NHRC chief

    The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said Nigeria’s anti-violence laws against women and children indirectly encourage the rape of children.

    Odinkalu spoke yesterday in Abuja at a Policy Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence Affecting Young People in Nigeria, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative, led by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

    While the law specifies life imprisonment for the rape of women, the law, the agency chief noted, only specifies 14 or seven-year imprisonment for the rape of a child.

    He explained that rape is rape, irrespective of the age of the victim.

    Odinkalu faulted the rape of children, saying it is ‘defilement’.

    He said: “It is important that we address the law reforms. It is important to recognise the parity of the crime of rape. Why is it that the rape of children is easier than the rape of adults? It is because our laws create incentives to rape children. If you rape a child, it is not rape; it is defilement.

    “And the punishment for rape is life imprisonment while the punishment for defilement is 14 years or seven years, depending on where you are. That is wrong. We have got to create a serious disincentive.”

    “It is amazing how we have tolerated this – that children can be defiled on a large scale because our laws say so. Why can’t we begin by saying that if you rape a child you go to jail for life?

    “Our laws are outdated on the question of violence. …You saw people forcing objects into a woman’s genital and our law does not recognise that as rape! Something is wrong because we define rape as penetration of a woman’s genital with the male genital.

    “It is only Lagos, for now, that recognises rape for what it is: the penetration of somebody’s genital with any instrument, irrespective of whether it is male genital or not.

    “A lot of these happen in the family: the violence against young people, sexual violence. And violence against women is the violence of people who we are supposed to love, care for and give everything to.

    “In most cases, we tolerate it because we say it is in the family and we should allow it to go for the sake of peace. That is the peace of the graveyard, and it is a peace we must resist.”

     

     

    According to him, steps should be taken to address Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

    Odinkalu called for special training of people to handle violence against women.

    The agency chief said this should not only be seen as criminal justice issue but also as a social, medical and adaptation issue.

    A Women’s Ministry, he said, should be established, and should not just be seen an appendage of the First Lady’s offices.

    Odinkalu said: “Since (the late) Mariam Babangida, I think we have been irresponsible with the way we managed the office or situation of the First Ladies. It is important to recognise that First Ladies have responsibilities and it is good to see First Ladies discharge those responsibilities.

    “We cannot generalise. There are good people in the system and there are terrible people in the system. There are several points of responsibility and there is a failure of responsibility in the system.”

     

    Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku noted that social violence us not only about Nigeria but a global phenomenon.

    According to him, the government has done many things to break barriers against women.

    He called for increased attention in order to place violence against women on the front burner in order to boost development in the society.

    “No society is free of certain injustices, but we need to work on our society to deal with these issues. Government alone cannot do everything. You must have social volunteers to assist in monitoring everything. Laws are not enough, there is need for sensitisation and awareness to win over hearts.” He stated

    The Force PRO, Frank Mba, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, noted that domestic violence has gone beyond the normal definition of crime.

    He said the Police Force has drawn a line between what is called a family affair in violence against women and domestic crime.

    He said officers have been directed not to traet domestic crime as family affairs.

    “Our challenges in the past included a lack of forensic evidence. But we have how developed new investigative models and created new units to handle these gender issues.” He said

    Noting that gender based violence is on the rise in the country, Dr. Odumakin said that the aim if the dialogue is to identify the existing gaps and to help build consensus towards eradication of violence against women and children in the country.

    According to her, the final dialogue will be held in June and a final document will be produced to articulate the position of the group.