The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Abubakar Malami, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the
suspension of erstwhile Rapid Response Team head, IRT, Deputy Commissioner of
Police, Abba Kyari, over allegations of bribery by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, FBI.
Besides, the Government has inaugurated members of the
governing council of the National Human Rights Commission, scoring itself high
on the protection of the rights of Nigerian citizens.
The Attorney General of the Federation Malami, who
inaugurated the Council on behalf of government Tuesday, said the Federal
Government, “is committed to the protection of the human rights of all
Nigerians and other nationals living in the country”.
The AGF who stated this at the Headquarters of the National
Human Rights Commission in Abuja, said “the federal government has shown
adequate capacity towards the protection of the rights of citizens and
foreigners resident in Nigeria, given its responses to the indictments of some
law enforcement officials”.
According to Malami, “the disbandment of SARS and setting up
of various panels of inquiry investigating and awarding damages for human
rights violations by SARS is a clear testimony to the fact that this government
is fulfilling its international obligation to set up an independent National
Human Rights Commission for the promotion and protection of human rights of
Nigerians”.
Besides, the Justice Minister said that “It is a known fact
that the present government had complied with the award of damages for victims
of the 2012 Apo killings of Okada riders by security agents, as well as
complied with the 2018 White Paper recommendations on Special Anti-Robbery
Squad of the Nigerian Police”.
He commended “the giant strides made by the Executive
Secretary and his management team in providing a purposeful and effective
leadership in the absence of a Governing Council”.
He also enjoined the new Governing Council Members to be
guided by the NHRC Act, and relevant Government circulars on tenure, the
part-time mandate of Members except the Executive Secretary, emoluments etc.
In his speech, the Executive Secretary of the Commission,
Tony Ojukwu, listed a plethora of key achievements made by the Commission,
stating that funding and operationalization of the Human Rights Fund (HRF) have
remained the great challenges in the Commission.
The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria said, “Though
there has been an increase in the budgetary allocation to the Commission
recently, the increase he noted has been a far cry in meeting the mandate of
the Commission and even in comparison to other Commissions in Africa like
Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Egypt and South Africa”.
Ojukwu also used the opportunity to commend the federal
government in setting up the Independent Investigation Panel on defunct SARS
and Other Units of the Police Force just as he sought the assistance of the AGF
and the Federal Government towards raising additional fund to complete the
investigative hearing.
In her response on behalf of the new Governing Council
Members, the Chairperson, Dr. Salamatu Husseini Suleiman said that human rights
protection has remained an important benchmark for checking development all of
the world and that Nigeria cannot be left behind in deepening a culture of
human rights protection that will be seen as a reference point within and
beyond the African continent.
She solicited the assistance of the Justice Minister in the
area of enhancing the welfare of workers in the Commission, pointing out that
improved welfare package will always be an incentive to members of staff and
that poor remuneration may result in a situation where workers will be leaving
for greener pastures possibly in the Civil Society Organisations, to the
detriment of the Commission’s growth.
The Members of the Governing Council who were also
administered with oath of office at the ceremony include:
Dr. Salamatu Husseini Suleiman (Chairperson), Tony Ojukwu
Esq.(Executive Secretary, NHRC), Representative of Federal Ministry of Justice,
Director Legal, Mrs D. Agba, Ambassador Umar Salisu (Representing Federal
Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Mrs D. Adeshida ( Representing Federal Ministry
of Interior).
Others are Joseph Onyemachi, Ahmad Abubakar, S. Asiwaju,
Abubakar Mohammed (Representing Print and Electronic Media), Femi Okewo,
Azubuike N. and the Representation for the Women.
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Why is this guy called Malami AGN praising the President Gen Muhammadu Buhari Rtd? Is this a democracy or dictatorship or what? In democracy, there are people in charge of certain things and they operate according to the laws of the land called the constitution. The constitution is what empowers them to do whatever they do according to that same constitution and not empowered by the President for the President and they are neither empowered by the President for the people but by the constitution for the people. They are not and should never be told what to do by the president but by the constitution. So why should it be the President that is being praised for allowing to do what the constitution says to do? Does it mean that the President has been involving by telling those in charge of somethings to do contrary to the laws of the land called the constitution before now that we have to praise him for allowing the right thing to be done at this time? Lol... Common now, the president doesn't have to be dragged into this petty crap and he doesn't have to be the one giving instructions or allowing things to be done BUT the constitution. It is just the right thing for the one involved in scandal to just respectfully resign and if not to be removed or suspended for proper investigation as it is now in this case but it shouldn't be left to the president to determine what happens but the constitution. The people in charge of things don't have to be told or instructed what to do, they should just have the sense and judgement to do whatever the constitution says. Corruption begins by the President telling them what to do. Hmmmmm democracy, the best system so far if well practiced. Tanx and remain blessed still inJesusname.
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