Nigeria says it would set up a new panel on Human Rights abuses in 2023, to handle other human rights abuses that were not reported and addressed by the ENDSARS panel which submitted its report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2022.
This was disclosed by the Project Coordinator and Director of Human Rights Institute (HRI), Ms. Ifeoma Wakama at the 2nd United Nations-Government of Nigeria and Partners Dialogue on Human Rights Priorities which took place Friday, at the Bello Bukhari Auditorium, NHRC Secretariat, Abuja on Friday.
She therefore urged citizens who have genuine cases of Human Rights abuses to get ready and take advantage of the coming panel to report their cases in order to get justice.
Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said that although Nigeria is yet to reach expected destination on the issue of human rights, a lot have been achieved, especially in the areas of prosecution and compensation.
He recalled that Nigeria this year, paid compensation to victims of human rights abuses as well as recommended the punishment of Police Officers indicted in such acts, following the recommendations of the ENDSARS panel.
Ojukwu called on Nigerians to nake concerted efforts to protect the lives and rights of citizens, as doing so requires collective efforts of all.
In her remark, the Hon. Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen said with the coming 2023 general election, Nigerians should elect leaders who would respect human rights of citizens.
She added that women are central to the promotion and protection of human rights and called for the safeguard of the rights of children.
Mrs Pauline commended the NHRC for the several achievements it has recorded.
Others who spoke at the event are, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mathias Schmale, Dr. Salametu Hussaini Suleiman, Chairperson of the NHRC Governing Council, representatives of all the Service Chief and the Inspector General of Police, the NBA and CSOs, among others.
It would be recalled that the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations against SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police (IIP-HRV-A-SARS), chaired by Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) had in September 2022, submitted its report to the National Human Rights Commission. The submission of the report took place at the Rockview Royale, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The Panel had indicted 72 police officers who were found guilty of various allegations including torture, illegal detention, extra-judicial killing and extortion, among others.
Of the 72 indicted officers, 28 were recommended for prosecution, 25 for dismissal, 15 for disciplinary actions and four for demotion.
While presenting the report, Justice Galadima, said the panel had entertained over 200 petitions from 29 states since its inauguration two years ago.
Other areas included threat to life, unlawful arrest and detention, nonpayment of a judgment sum, cruelty, inhuman, and degrading also this year, the NHRC, on behalf of the Federal Government handed out cheks totaling N438, 884, 094 as compensation to victims of police brutality, following recommendations by the panel.
It is the first time in the history of Nigeria that the Federal Government would pay compensation to victims of human rights abuses by security agencies.