What lawyers, activists say on Nigeria’s human rights
Lawyers and activists used this year’s International Human Rights Day to assess the human rights situation in Nigeria. Marking the event last week in Abuja, the activists were of the view that the human rights situation is at the lowest point since the return of democracy in 1999.
Speaking at the event organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and civil society groups, senior lawyers and rights defenders called on legal practitioners and citizens to rise up in defence of liberty.
In his remark, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) said “until the legal profession begins to take objection to every violations of human rights, including self violations, and begin to apply sanctions, the government will continue to violate human rights with such impunity and audacity of arrogance.”
“We have not even looked at our fundamental right to freedom from fear; freedom from fear is on daily basis in jeopardy. If you are moving on the road, you are afraid you will be kidnapped. Judges are not spared; political class are not spared; security men are not spared. So, every right that is available to we as human beings are on daily basis in jeopardy,” he bemoaned.
Speaking on the topic: “The State of Human Rights in Nigeria”, a civil society activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) criticised the Social Media Regulation Bill and Hate Speech Bill before the National Assembly as a breach of the provisions of Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution which grants freedom of expression.
“When you get to a situation in a country where the leader says people should not talk, then they are afraid of something. It is either we are getting set for a third term agenda or getting set for a full-blown civilian dictatorship,” he said.
Adegboruwa regretted that the Nigerian legal jurisprudence has been dominated with cases bordering on election petitions rather than on other important aspects of law which affect the lives of people.
The NBA Abuja branch chairman, Abimbola Kayode said the summit became necessary due to the poor human rights situation in the country. He called on the Federal Government to allow the rule of law and obedience to court orders in the country.
For his part, a representative of the NBA president and its General Secretary, Jonathan Taidi Esq said the association has continued to raise issues over cases of impunity in the country and encouraged other branches to emulate the Abuja branch for initiating such dialogues on the human rights situation in the country.
The President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rhoda Tyorden Moore said human rights in Nigeria cannot be discussed without a mention of gender-based violence in the country. He added that when the country appears to be making progress, it takes more steps backward.
“On a daily basis, FIDA Nigeria branches receive numerous reports of violence and sexual violence against women and children. These numerous cases have resulted to untold pain and hardship due to poor opportunity to reporting such cases,” she said.
Also commemorating the day, the Avocats Sans Francais France (ASFF) otherwise known as Lawyers Without Borders, called on security agencies to adhere to the rule of law and due process in the discharge of their duties.
In a statement signed by its Country Director, Angela Uwandu, ASFF noted that its worried about “an upsurge in violations of human rights by security agencies in Nigeria with several cases of arrests, torture of detainees, prolonged detention of suspects without trial, extra-judicial killings, extortion and disregard of court orders.”
In its message, the Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN) in a observed the myriad of unconstitutional and politically-motivated moves resulting in the infringement of right to freedom of expression, right to dignity of human persons, right to liberty, etc. could lead to “complete state of lawlessness”.
In a statement signed by the coordinator, Chisom Ihekwaba, HRAN noted that, “the persistent efforts by the legislature to muzzle voices and constrict civic space has become a cause for concern.”
The lawyers and activists called for the enlightenment of the citizenry on their human rights to reduce the level of abuses in the society.