Mr. Femi Falana
LAGOS-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), and a civil society group, Legal Defence and Accountability Project, have asked Nigerians to continue to demand for adequate security of lives and property in the country.
They made the call on Wednesday in separate statements to mark this year’s celebration of the international human rights day, an annual event which holds internationally on December 10.
LEDAP in a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, decried the inability of government to rescue the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram since April 14, 2014.
The statement read, “LEDAP is deeply concerned that the issue of the abduction of the Chibok girls and other abductions remains a mirage. Worthy of note is the incessant bombings and the spate of kidnappings across the entire polity, which till date; no ascertainable action has been effected by the Government.
“LEDAP in line with this year’s theme ‘Human Rights 365’ supports the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times, is entitled to a full range of human rights; that every day is a Human Rights Day and that human rights belong equally to each one of us and bind us together.
“LEDAP reiterates that the Federal Government owns Nigerians a duty to ensure that there is a free and fair election in the upcoming election. The vote of its citizens must count.
“The government is reminded of its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria as a country stands in agreement with the United Nations to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected and in occurrence of any infringement, the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Falana on his part, said ordinary Nigerians had been deprived the enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed them by the constitution.
He said, “The police and other security agencies have been regularly indicted for subjecting suspects to torture and other forms of indignity. Many innocent persons have been extra-judicially murdered. Detention without trial is a common phenomenon.
“Court orders for the release of detained persons are routinely treated with contempt. Like a failed state, the government has conceded the monopoly of violence to criminal gangs. Unarmed citizens are kidnapped on a regular basis.
“To secure the release of victims their family members are made to pay ransom running to millions of Naira. In many instances, the government pays the ransom demanded by the criminal forces. Terrorist attacks are on the increase. Towns and villages are taken over with little or no resistance from soldiers while women and girls are abducted and enslaved.
“As we mark the 2014 Human Rights Day the Nigerian people must demand for adequate security for the life and property of every person. The Federal Government should comply with all judgments of the courts while security personnel who abuse human rights are sanctioned.”
They made the call on Wednesday in separate statements to mark this year’s celebration of the international human rights day, an annual event which holds internationally on December 10.
LEDAP in a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, decried the inability of government to rescue the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram since April 14, 2014.
The statement read, “LEDAP is deeply concerned that the issue of the abduction of the Chibok girls and other abductions remains a mirage. Worthy of note is the incessant bombings and the spate of kidnappings across the entire polity, which till date; no ascertainable action has been effected by the Government.
“LEDAP in line with this year’s theme ‘Human Rights 365’ supports the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times, is entitled to a full range of human rights; that every day is a Human Rights Day and that human rights belong equally to each one of us and bind us together.
“LEDAP reiterates that the Federal Government owns Nigerians a duty to ensure that there is a free and fair election in the upcoming election. The vote of its citizens must count.
“The government is reminded of its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria as a country stands in agreement with the United Nations to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected and in occurrence of any infringement, the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Falana on his part, said ordinary Nigerians had been deprived the enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed them by the constitution.
He said, “The police and other security agencies have been regularly indicted for subjecting suspects to torture and other forms of indignity. Many innocent persons have been extra-judicially murdered. Detention without trial is a common phenomenon.
“Court orders for the release of detained persons are routinely treated with contempt. Like a failed state, the government has conceded the monopoly of violence to criminal gangs. Unarmed citizens are kidnapped on a regular basis.
“To secure the release of victims their family members are made to pay ransom running to millions of Naira. In many instances, the government pays the ransom demanded by the criminal forces. Terrorist attacks are on the increase. Towns and villages are taken over with little or no resistance from soldiers while women and girls are abducted and enslaved.
“As we mark the 2014 Human Rights Day the Nigerian people must demand for adequate security for the life and property of every person. The Federal Government should comply with all judgments of the courts while security personnel who abuse human rights are sanctioned.”
PUNCH.
No comments:
Post a Comment