Violations of Human Rights Unacceptable, Says AGF

NHRC plans public hearing on SARS activities

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) , Abubakar Malami, yesterday said the violations of human rights are unacceptable for whatever reasons in Nigeria.

Malami stated this at an event organised to mark this year’s United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture held in Abuja.

The minister who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, in an address, stated that “torture in particular is a clear assault on the inherent dignity and fundamental freedoms of the human person.”

“It is wicked, dehumanising and has been criminalised in Nigeria with the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act 2017, signed into law same year by President Muhammadu Buhari,” he added.

He said the Act was in furtherance of the present administration’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution, adding that Nigeria is a state party to a range of international and regional human rights instruments expressly prohibiting torture and ill-treatment.

He said to achieve the intent and purpose of the Act, current efforts aimed at reforming the institutional and legal framework of the criminal justice system would be intensified.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said following complaints by the public against the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the commission had concluded plans to commence public hearing on the activities of SARS in the South-south and South-east geo-political zones of the country.

Ojukwu said the NHRC had already begun some interventions, like fact-finding visits to SARS’ detention facilities across the country and interface on the operations of SARS.

“This commenced with the FCT Police Command in December 2017 and will be replicated in other parts of the country, after which appropriate actions will be taken based on findings,” Ojukwu said.

He urged the public and the police authorities to assist the commission and cooperate to curb the practice of torture by SARS and other security agencies to reduce the incidence of torture in the polity.

Ojukwu said the NHRC has the mandate to investigate allegations against all human rights violations as well as seek appropriate redress for victims.