Sowore, Jalingo: SERAP writes NJC, seeks directives on citizens’ rights

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has urged Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman,

National Judicial Council (NJC) to issue directives to all courts to stop the ‘‘disturbing trend by state

governments and the federal government to use the court as a tool to suppress citizens’ human rights’’.

In letter dated 4 October 2019 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, he said ‘‘across the country, state governors and federal government are charging citizens, mostly journalists, bloggers and activists with serious crimes such as treason, treasonable felony or bogus crime of insulting public officials, simply for exercising their human rights.

“These charges, refusal of bail and granting of bail on stringent conditions seem to be dangerous manipulation of judicial authority and functions by high-ranking politicians, something which the NJC and the judiciary under your watch should resist.”

SERAP further said ‘‘in the climate of a growing clampdown on human rights of journalists and activists by several state governments and federal government, the NJC ought to push back and act as protector of individuals’ rights against abuses by the authorities.

The letter, copied to Mr. Diego Garcia-Sayan, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, read in part: “If the practice by state governments and federal government is allowed to continue, the courts will be relegated to desuetude, and will lead to arbitrary and unrestricted power as well as further suppression of citizens’ human rights.”