Relief As IIP-SARS Awards N432m Compensation To 100 Victims Of Police Brutality

Relief As IIP-SARS Awards N432m Compensation To 100 Victims Of Police Brutality

Finally, justice and relief have been served as the Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, and other Units of the Nigeria Police Force (IIP-SARS), sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday awarded compensations to 100 victims of police brutality, to the tune of about N431, 884,094 million.

The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Governing Council Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Sulaiman disclosed that the panel heard a total of 294 cases out of which decisions were made on 292. She made this disclosure during the symbolic presentation of cheques to the families and victims of police brutality at the Headquarters of the (NHRC) in Abuja.

She used the opportunity of the award ceremony to express the Council’s appreciation to Nigerians who trusted the Commission by filing petitions to the IIP-SARS, adding that the act shows their belief in the human rights mechanisms of Nigeria.

The Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, stated this in a statement released to Peionews in Abuja.

According to the statement, the NHRC chairperson further stated that “as an independent National Human Rights Institution, the Commission will continue to exercise its mandate to promote and protect the human rights of every Nigerian, using various constituted mechanisms under the National Human Rights Commission Act (as amended)”.

She assured that “the Commission will work towards putting in place a permanent mechanism through which we will address cases of police brutality and other associated human rights violations arising from law enforcement and security operations”.

The Panel Chairman, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Suleiman Galadima (CFR), who brought his wealth of experience to bear throughout the panel sitting, expressed appreciation to all who made the IIP-SARS a success.

While urging state governments with similar panels to harmonize their report for appropriate actions, Justice Galadima rtd. advised them to set aside funds for the panels to carry out their functions.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC who believes that there cannot be impunity in Nigeria forever expressed delight that the Commission was able to get justice for victims of police brutality.

He thanked the Buhari-led administration for making funds available for payment of compensation saying “the Commission laboured day and night to ensure that there is some sort of closure for the victims and their families”.

Stressing the need for accountability for human rights violations, the learned silk said, “The ceremony today is to tell you that we have acknowledged the violation of your rights and we are putting this forward in good faith to say we are sorry”.

“The amount paid today will not solve all the problems but to ensure that where there is a violation of rights, there must be a remedy.”

“This is a clear indication that we should not take the laws into our hands. The course of Justice may be slow, but surely we will get there and what happened today is an indication that Nigeria will be better” he affirmed.

Secretary of the panel and the Senior Human Rights Adviser to the Executive Secretary, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna, disclosed that allegations in the petitions that were determined, bordered on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment by police officers, prolonged detention, abuse of power, as well as non-payment of judgment debts.

He lamented that some of the victims died before the panel could conclude its investigations that spanned for a period of two years.

“It is quite unfortunate that some of the petitioners are no more. Some of them died within the last eight months”. He said, ” We are making arrangements with their families and lawyers to ensure that they receive their compensations”.

On what happens to the indicted police officers, the Panel Secretary has this to say: “some of you may be wondering, what about the police personnel who perpetrated these violations? The panel has also made recommendations on what should be done to some indicted police officers. The report will soon be submitted to the appropriate authorities”.

FG inaugurates National committe against torture, domiciles secretariat at NHRC

FG inaugurates National committe against torture, domiciles secretariat at NHRC

Determined to eliminate torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Nigeria, the federal government has inaugurated the National Committee Against Torture (NCAT), in recognition of the increasing cases of torture across the country.

Inaugurating the Committee in Abuja, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) stated that the Committee is expected to play a crucial role to stamp out torture and other related vices, and to ensure justice to survivors and victims.

The Chief Law Officer of the Federation observed that poor funding was the bane of the previous Committee, pointing out that the provision of adequate funding to ease the work of the Committee has become imperative.

According to the Minister, in as much as the Committee has been given a broad mandate to deal with issues of torture in the country in accordance with the UN Convention Against Torture, it is at liberty to seek more areas to dwell if the need arises, considering the critical nature of this national assignment.

The AGF said that the Committee is empowered to liaise with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in discharging its mandate, especially in the area of visits to Correctional Service facilities, to enable it to have first-hand information on the condition of inmates.

In her remarks, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Chairperson of the NCA Beatrice Jedy Agba, on behalf of other members commended the HAG for reconstituting the committee. She assured the AGF of the committee’s commitment to satisfactorily implement the terms of reference, particularly with respect to providing timely statutory reports as required under UNCAT and working with renewed vigour towards fighting against the scourge.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) who also doubles as the alternate Chair of the Committee said the idea of NHRC hosting the Committee (Secretariat) is in line with international best practices, given that it brings credibility to the work of the Committee.

The Chief Custodian of Human Rights in Nigeria recalled that visits to Correctional Service facilities and other detention centres was one of the major challenges of the previous Committee, saying that leveraging on the powers of the Commission to visit such facilities will be highly beneficial to the Committee.

The NHRC Boss emphasized the need for the Committee to collaborate with relevant MDAs, Nigerian Bar Associations and Civil Society Organizations to identify and escalate complaints of torture so as to facilitate timely redress of these cases by the Committee.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are “To engage and liaise with Committee Against Torture (CAT) and regional human rights mechanisms in the context of country reporting, interactive dialogue or facilitation of visits by special procedure mandate holders or the Subcommittees on the Prevention of Torture.

“To organize and facilitate the preparation of reports to CAT and regional human rights mechanisms, and of responses to communication, follow up questions and recommendations or decisions received from such mechanisms.

“To coordinate data collection and information gathering from government agencies, National Assembly and the Judiciary for the reporting and follow up.

“To foster and lead consultations for reporting and follow up with the National Human Rights Commission and Civil Society Organizations.

“To receive and consider communications on torture from individuals, CSOs and government institutions.

“To ensure education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully included in the training of law enforcement and public officers.

“To prepare quarterly briefings to the HAGF on cases of torture and propose appropriate administrative/Judicial intervention.

“Propose a review of Anti-Torture Legislation and further develop a National Anti-Torture Policy”.

Members of the newly reconstituted Committee are drawn from the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Human Right Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Legal Aids Council, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Bar association among others.

Obi/Datti Charity Begins At Home Conference Holds ln Abakaliki Saturday

Obi/Datti Charity Begins At Home Conference Holds ln Abakaliki Saturday

The Obi/Datti Movement, Ebonyi State Chapter has planned a townhall meeting to mobilise supports for the Labour Party, (LP) presidential candidates for 2023 general elections.

The townhall meeting tagged “Charity Begins at Home Connference is to hold on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Nkwuegu Ugbala Grand Square, Old Enugu Road, Abakaliki.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Thirdforce, Dr Yunusa Tanko said the charity begins at home conference would be attended by the top party officials and leaderships of other support groups from Southeast and beyond.

Dr Tanko said a similar townhall meeting which also involved mass awareness rally had been held in Enugu recently to drum supports for Labour Party.

The Thirdforce spokesman further disclosed that the conference was being independently organised and funded by the Ebonyi State Obi/Datti Movement.

He praised the share sacrifices, commitments and love being shown to the Obi/Datti candidacy stressing that, ” never in our recent history have Nigerians shown this kind of love and magnificent sacrifices to candidates of a political party like we are experiencing in the emergence of Obi/Datti candidacy.

“We only had this kind of kind of selfless committed supporters during the first Republic when the likes of Saduana, the great Azikiwe, Awolowo and the rest were on stage.. It shows that Nigeria is going through a moment of rebirth”.

Dr Tanko stressed that the amazing aspect was the fact that such sacrifices were coming from the ordinary Nigerians and not the so called political elites who had hitherto hijacked and held the country hostage.

Obi Didn’t Travel To Seek For Funds – Tanko

Obi Didn’t Travel To Seek For Funds – Tanko

The Labour Party, (LP) presidential candidate, His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi did not travel out of the country to solicit for campaign funds as being alleged by the opposition candidate’s supporters.

Giving the clarification on Arise Television life interview on Monday evening, the spokesman for the Thirdforce, Dr Yunusa Tanko disclosed that Mr Peter Obi went to galvanise Nigerians in diaspora for the rebuilding of a country that has been battered by series of bad leaderships.

Dr Yunusa Tanko stressed that the presidential candidate took to the diaspora Nigerians messages of hope and faith in Nigeria assuring them that the situation of Nigeria was not hopeless.

He noted that rather than castigate Peter Obi, he should be praised for rekindling the hope of those millions of Nigerians who left the shores of the country with despair.

“These are skilled Nigerians, doctors, teachers, businessmen and women who left this country not because they wanted to leave but circumstances occasioned by bad leaderships in Nigeria forced them to relocate to other countries and Mr Obi has been able to change their psyche by merely telling them the plans he has to rebuild Nigeria.

“Doesn’t Mr Peter Obi deserve praises for being able to convince these our diaspora brothers and sisters to begin to believe that all hope is not yet lost in their country.

On the issue of the proposed crowdfunding of Obi/Datti campaign by the diaspora Nigerians, Dr Tanko assured that, “as Obidients we will not go against the law. We are determined to strengthen our laws so that they can work for the good of Nigerians when we take over the mantle of leadership come 2023”.

The Thirdforce image maker further emphasised that it was wrong to assume that diaspora funding of the campaign would amount to money laundering stressing that, ” if they, (diaspora Nigerians ) had been remitting funds to their loved ones at home which were not classified as laundered money, l wonder why the campaign fund will be labelled differently”.