Int’l Human Rights Day: Lawyers seek enforceable rights, security

Lawyers’ associations have called for amendment of laws to support the enforcement of fundamental human rights in Nigeria.

The calls were made during the celebration of the 2020 International Human Rights Day recently.

• Alleged money laundering: Court throws out case against Atikus son-in-law
• Killing of lawyer, pregnant wife sparks anger in Benue community

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja chapter, advocated that Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution be made justiciable.

The forum commemorating the programme had both conference and virtual summit with Professor Gbolagade Ayoola, a professor of Agricultural Economics; Professor Joy Ezeilo, a professor of Law and Professor Femi Odekunle, a professor of Criminology and Social Science.

Constitutional Review

Apart from laws covering the rights of women, marginalised and vulnerable peoples, they also advocated constitutional review to include gender-sensitive language and revisiting the indignity clause.

Also, Access to Justice said it was worried about the failure of the Nigerian government to provide an enabling environment for the expression of human rights.

The convener, Joseph Otteh, said citizens’ right to life has been seriously threatened by the increasing spate of insecurity in the country.

He said the recent Zabarmari massacre which witnessed the killing of farmers, numbering over 43, in Borno State clearly showed the failure of the Nigerian government to uphold the citizen’s right to life.

“We condemn this in its entirety and also denounce the increasing insecurity that has continued to mar Nigeria’s national experience,” he said.