by The Ajasa News | February 22, 2020 12:48 pm
By Martin Odiete, Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over recent harassment of judicial officers in the legitimate and constitutional exercise of their functions in Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Commission released on Friday, they noted that the current situation is further accentuated by the increasing lack of safety for Nigerians while pursing their legitimate duties or businesses due to acts of hoodlums, criminal minded elements, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and others thereby undermining human security to abysmal levels.
The statement noted that attack on the Judiciary
does not speak well of a Nation as it goes a long way to undermining the
performances of the Judges, “Judicial independence is greatly undermined when
judges are no longer able to exercise their functions without fear of
reprisals, kidnappings, reprimand or attack on their persons, immediate family
and property. The recent attacks on the person and private property of
Honourable Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court, kidnapping of Justice
Ijeoma Iheme of the Court of Appeal Benin Division and other judicial officers
are but a few cases amongst a host of others.
“It is worse where such attacks on judicial officials result
from performance of official duties following the delivery of judgements in
election related cases. Such are highly condemnable and portend great danger
for Nigeria’s democracy and the enjoyment of the human rights especially the
rights to life, freedom from fear of personal security, dignity of human
persons, privacy and ownership of property as guaranteed by the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the African Charter on Human
and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence
of the Judiciary. The rule of law and the realization of human rights can only
be attained when judges and our courts are able to dispense justice without any
inclination to fear, bias and intimidation. It may seem fashionable today to
criticize judgements and judges when cases go for or against us but such
exercise of rights must be within the law by respecting the rights of the
judicial officers and the judiciary as a key institution of government, the
destruction of which will uproot the very foundations of our democracy and do
no one any good.
“We acknowledge the right of every Nigerian to
fair comment on judgements of courts, freedom of expression and to hold and
impart opinions as guaranteed by the Constitution. However, the enjoyment of
these rights does not extend to, or encourage violent acts, invasion of
privacy and destruction of private properties which also violate the human
rights of others and are crimes against the state.
“Consequently, the National Human Rights
Commission wishes to appeal to all political actors and their supporters to:
a. Respect the human rights of citizens to express fair
comments on the judgements of courts without personalizing any issues arising
therefrom or infringing on the rights of others.
b. Observe and respect the human rights of
judicial officers in the exercise of their lawful duties. This extends to their
personal and official properties and privacy.
c. Respect the right of other Nigerians who hold
divergent political or legal opinions as the basis for a free, just and
democratic society.
“The Commission further calls on security agencies
to ensure the rights and security of Nigerians and especially judicial officers
performing their official duties are protected and should bring those
responsible for the attack on Justice Mary Odili’s home as well as other
judicial officers who have suffered similar attacks are brought to book in
accordance with the law,” the statement concluded.
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