Justice Sector: Jonathan; Adoke Have Excelled—HURIWA

A Democracy Inclined Non-Governmental Organization-HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA [HURIWA] has on the 54th Independence anniversary of Nigeria applauded some landmark achievements made in the justice sector including the signing and implementation of the Freedom of Information Act of 2011 and the upgrading to greater financial and operational autonomy of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission [NHRC] by the current Federal Government.

The Rights group has however carpeted the Federal Government for doing next to nothing to rein in and sanction through strict judicial and legal process and legislative mechanisms the many breaches of the fundamental human rights of ordinary Nigerians by operatives and officers of the Nigerian Police Force including the killing and dumping in the Ezu River in Awka, Anambra State through extra-judicial means of over three dozen Anambra State citizens belonging to the largely peaceful self determination seeking Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra [MASSOB].

HURIWA has therefore charged the office of the Federal Attorney General and President Good luck Jonathan to compel the necessary judicial and legal entities to initiate thorough probe of this alleged despicable criminal act of genocide; fish out the suspected Police operatives responsible for this dastardly criminal extra-legal execution of Nigerians and prosecute and punish them for this outrageous crime against humanity in the competent court of law in accordance with section 6 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria [as amended]. HURIWA upbraided the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for muddling up the probe of this EZU RIVER MASSACRE by the police and for concealing its findings under the stinking red carpets of infamy.

In a statement signed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA [HURIWA] said the failure of both the Anambra State government, the National Assembly, the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission and the largely professionally incompetent police to uncover the suspected police operatives attached to the State Anti-Robbery Squad in Awka, Anambra State responsible for this mass killings of dozens of human beings that floated in the Ezu River Anambra State during the administration of the immediate past government of Mr Peter Obi is a fundamental minus to the overall human rights landmark achievements made under the current democratic dispensation. HURIWA also blamed the immediate past Anambra State governor for abysmally failing to unearth the police operatives who killed dozens of Anambra State citizens even as it affirmed that generations yet unborn will not forgive him for this alleged monumental cover up which happened during his administration.

However, HURIWA stated that in appreciation of the modest human rights achievements made so far under the current dispensation including the quality body of legal advice rendered to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Good Luck Jonathan by the office and person of the Federal Attorney General and minister of justice Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke [SAN] [CFR], it has in partnership with its continental affiliate body-Association of African Writers on Human and Peoples Rights [AFRIRIGHTS] and other 24 local affiliate Non-Governmental but registered entities decided to name the Justice Minister as the recipient of the year 2014 BEST HUMAN RIGHTS FRIENDLY PUBLIC OFFICER OF NIGERIA. The Rights group announced that in due course it would make the presentation to the person and office of the Federal Attorney General and minister of Justice.

On the specific issues of gross violations of the fundamental human rights of many Nigerians on daily basis by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force [NPF], HURIWA stated that in close partnership with like minded Non-Governmental and human rights oriented organizations they have compiled a dossier of these breaches which it will submit forthwith to the offices of the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice and that of the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Good Luck Jonathan.

''We are seriously disturbed by the serial violations of the basic human rights of ordinary Nigerians by men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force who are paid with tax payers money. We have consistently advocated radical and surgical overhaul of the current Nigerian Police Force and the setting up through a clearly defined legal and constitutional frameworks a functional, independent and strong state policing institution made up of Nigerians of strong and unimpeachable character because definitely the kind of policing institution we have now has largely become compromised, dysfunctional and inefficient even as the issue of discipline and professionalism have been thrown overboard by the men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force as currently constituted.''

On the nomination of the Justice minister, the Rights group averred that it has already sent letter of NOTIFICATION OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD to the good offices of the Federal Attorney General and minister of Justice.

According to HURIWA excerpts from the letter reads thus; ''Sir we write to wish you the best especially with the coming of Nigeria's 54th independence anniversary which incidentally is a symbolic ceremony that serves as a sharp reminder of the urgent patriotic need for Nigerians to continue to serve the nation with all the talents and zeal that the Almighty God has bestowed on us''.

HURIWA further told the Minister of Justice thus; ''Sir our strictly non-Governmental and independent platform in partnership with our affiliate continental body-ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN WRITERS ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS [AFRIRIGHTS] alongside our local partners numbering over 24 have watched with interest the salient achievements in the area of respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens that you have made while still serving Nigerians and the Nigerian Federal Government in the high office and national capacity as the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Sir, we are well aware that it was during your stay in office currently that Mr President Dr.Good Luck Ebele Jonathan [GCFR] made a remarkable and indeed landmark achievement by signing into law two critical rights-based legislations that promote and protect the fundamental human right to freedom of information and the elevation of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission [NHRC] to an independent body operationally and financially thus bringing Nigeria to be at par with the global best practices''.

''Sir, we know that during your current service as the nation's chief law officer that your office has emphasized rights-based approach to criminal and civil prosecution in substantial compliance with extant statutory provisions and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Unlike what used to be obtained previously, we note with satisfaction that the Nigerian Federal Government under the current dispensation has elevated respect to binding judgments of the courts of competent jurisdiction to an all time high even as the current President is reputed to have received quality body of legal opinion on matters such as preserving the basic constitutional provisions even in times of state of emergency in some parts of the country.

This is even against political pressure mounted on the President to unseat illegally the governors of those three North Eastern States under the state of emergency. We are happy that you have maintained the reputation as a constitutional purist.

We acknowledge that as a human person you are not perfect and so may have made some mistakes and missteps while still in office but we are glad to inform you that we have found you worthy to be named as our BEST HUMAN RIGHTS FRIENDLY PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDER OF THE YEAR 2014 after a painstaking nomination process which spanned over six months and contributions from over 25,000 Nigerians of all classes and status and across the six geopolitical zones. Sir, you came tops in many areas and so we have nominated you''.