The group flays FG for the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu
A human rights group under the umbrella of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center hit out at the federal government on Friday for flouting the Court of Appeals ruling on the continued detention of the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, expressed his reservations during a press conference held in Abuja to commemorate World Human Rights Day.
A Federal Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled that the FG breached all local and international laws in its forcible rendition of Kanu to Nigeria, an action which quashed the terrorism charges against him.
Despite the judgment for Kanu's release, the President's administration, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retired), refused his release.
Federation Attorney General and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami had said the IPOB leader had only been acquitted and not released, insisting the FG would pursue further charges against Kanu.
Deploring what he described as a gross abuse of human rights, Nwankwo, expressed concern that Nigeria was gradually moving away from its responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution country and various international human rights treaty obligations.
According to him, not only has the country failed to protect its citizens from the erosion of their basic rights, but the government has often been complicit in actions that negate rather than enhance those rights.< /p>
He said, "For example, an October 13 Court of Appeal decision specifically reprimanded the government for its role in kidnapping a wanted citizen of a foreign country without due process in order to bring to justice.
“Such illegal action by the government in the terrorism and treason trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, has quashed the government’s case, rendering it ‘untriable’ in Nigeria, the court has heard in its historic decision. .
“But the government persisted in ignoring the court ruling and at the same time asking for an appeal. Federal and state governments have also shown a lack of tolerance for criticism.
“They have often chosen to suppress criticism by deploying regulatory powers, citing bogus laws and using security forces. Examples include the banning of Twitter and the many occasions when government officials, including President's wife, illegally arrest and detain critics and journalists."
The human rights defender recommended a change of attitude where the government sees itself as the main defender of human rights rather than their main violator.
A worried Nwankwo also said there was an urgent need to address the grazing conflict sweeping the country as it is directly implicated in food shortages and their rising costs.
"The government should redouble its efforts to address widespread insecurity in the country and reassert its control over the country's territory, the report says.
“The PLAC has called on authorities to open investigations into allegations that some members of the security forces are showing partisanship towards certain parties to the grazing conflict, to nip these practices in the bud, if true , and to build public confidence in the armed forces,” he said.
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A human rights group under the umbrella of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center hit out at the federal government on Friday for flouting the Court of Appeals ruling on the continued detention of the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, expressed his reservations during a press conference held in Abuja to commemorate World Human Rights Day.
A Federal Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled that the FG breached all local and international laws in its forcible rendition of Kanu to Nigeria, an action which quashed the terrorism charges against him.
Despite the judgment for Kanu's release, the President's administration, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retired), refused his release.
Federation Attorney General and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami had said the IPOB leader had only been acquitted and not released, insisting the FG would pursue further charges against Kanu.
Deploring what he described as a gross abuse of human rights, Nwankwo, expressed concern that Nigeria was gradually moving away from its responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution country and various international human rights treaty obligations.
According to him, not only has the country failed to protect its citizens from the erosion of their basic rights, but the government has often been complicit in actions that negate rather than enhance those rights.< /p>
He said, "For example, an October 13 Court of Appeal decision specifically reprimanded the government for its role in kidnapping a wanted citizen of a foreign country without due process in order to bring to justice.
“Such illegal action by the government in the terrorism and treason trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, has quashed the government’s case, rendering it ‘untriable’ in Nigeria, the court has heard in its historic decision. .
“But the government persisted in ignoring the court ruling and at the same time asking for an appeal. Federal and state governments have also shown a lack of tolerance for criticism.
“They have often chosen to suppress criticism by deploying regulatory powers, citing bogus laws and using security forces. Examples include the banning of Twitter and the many occasions when government officials, including President's wife, illegally arrest and detain critics and journalists."
The human rights defender recommended a change of attitude where the government sees itself as the main defender of human rights rather than their main violator.
A worried Nwankwo also said there was an urgent need to address the grazing conflict sweeping the country as it is directly implicated in food shortages and their rising costs.
"The government should redouble its efforts to address widespread insecurity in the country and reassert its control over the country's territory, the report says.
“The PLAC has called on authorities to open investigations into allegations that some members of the security forces are showing partisanship towards certain parties to the grazing conflict, to nip these practices in the bud, if true , and to build public confidence in the armed forces,” he said.
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