AGF pledges support to NHRC’s military accountability programme

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has expressed the ministry’s readiness to provide necessary support needed in the pursuit of promotion of accountability for human rights violations in the country. Th e minister pledged this support while receiving a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission who paid him a working visit in Abuja. Expressing delight over the visit, the AGF said, it was timely and that his offi ce is interested in identifying and working with relevant bodies to address cases of human rights violation especially the issue of suspects in custody.

He therefore revealed that the Justice Ministry, in collaboration with the Military and the Offi ce of National Security Adviser, have concluded the profi ling of insurgents in custody in Kainji, Niger state and will soon commence the trial in court, of those found culpable. Furthermore, he said the essence of the profi ling of the insurgents in custody is for proper identifi cation and location should any need arise for them to be traced after they may have been tried and released from custody.

Th e minister disclosed to the NHRC delegation that about 500 insurgents in custody at Giwa Barracks in Borno state, have been relocated to prison custody to decongest the detention facility in the barracks while eff orts are being made to fast-track their prosecution. Concluding, he assured the Commission of his willingness to push necessary Council Memo on the National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Right to the Federal Executive Council for consideration and adoption.

Earlier in her remarks, the NHRC’s Acting Executive Secretary, said the purpose of the working visit was to among other things, brief the minister on the activities of the Commission, particularly with regard to NHRC/ Military dialogue and to seek his collaboration in several areas of its work including speedy processing of insurgents awaiting trial in military detention facilities.

While commending the gallantry of the Nigerian Military in containing the insurgency, Mrs. Ovrawah called on the AGF to use the instrumentality of his offi ce to hold accountable, military offi cers who in one way or the other, are guilty of violating the rights of civilians during the counter insurgency operations in the North East. She further revealed that the Commission, in collaboration with the European Union, was carrying out a project on promoting accountability for human rights violations in counter insurgency operations in the North East, Th e NHRC boss said the military is being trained under the project to mainstream human rights into their operations.

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