FG confirms N135m judgement debt pay to ‘Apo six’ victims

The federal government yesterday confirmed the payment of N135m judgement debt to victims and family members of the September 18, 2013 ‘Apo six killings’ in compliance with the resolution of the National Human Rights Commission.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, confirmed this to reporters at after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

The payment followed the killing of six traders – Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Augustina Arebu, Anthony Nwokike, Paulinus Ogbonna and Ekene Isaac Mgbe – by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in 2005.

He said FEC approved Action Plan 2022 to 2026 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria, formulated by the stakeholders in ministries, departments and agencies.

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Malami said the policy was targeted at consolidating and upscaling the Nigerian observance of the human rights posture in view of the successes and achievements of Nigeria on human rights under the current administration.

He also said the report of the committee for the protection of journalists equally adjudged Nigeria as the only African country last year that had been in full compliance in terms of the protection of the rights of the journalists with one incidence of death of a journalist recorded from infractions.

He said: “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has established a record of being the first and only administration in history of Nigeria that has indeed tolerated, accommodated and enforced decision of the Human Rights Commission.”