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HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NIGERIA, 1970-1999

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background to The Study

The study of human rights and human rights violations are broad areas of concern. Inquiries into human rights, prison and prison reforms have assumed a new dimension and attracted great attention and currency in the world today. This is because the issue of human rights and prison congestion are among the concepts receiving global attention. There are certain rights that all human beings are entitled to in Nigeria. The rights guaranteed by the constitution are found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (iii) of 10 December 1948, and the African Union Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The rights in the Nigeria’s constitution include:

•           Right to Life;

•           Right to dignity of the human person which encompass freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, slavery, servitude or forced labour;

•           Right to personal liberty;

•           Right to privacy and family life;

•           Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;

•           Right to freedom of expression;

•           Right to fair hearing;

•           Right to peaceful assembly and to freedom of association; and

•           Right to freedom of movement.

In the case of Nigeria, these rights are enshrined in Section IV of the 1999 constitution and they constitute what are universally called first generation rights. The government is under obligation to provide and safe-guard these rights. If the government fails to safe-guard them, the citizen can seek redress in court because they are justiciable and enforceable. Furthermore, there are second and third generation rights that are not justiciable and enforceable. The second-generation rights are referred to as Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. Such rights are contained in Section II of Nigerian constitution. They deal with matters like the provision of health care, education, employment, security, farming tools, etc. They are not justiciable and enforceable in Nigeria or other parts of the third world countries. This is mainly to forestall the likelihood of a litany of litigations.

The third-generation rights arise due to the over domineering nature and attitude of the developed nations in world affairs. This group of rights include agitation of the developing nations for rights to such things as right to development, equal recognition, right to culture, freedom from greenhouse emission, pollution-free environment, freedom from imperialism etc, as human rights. They are called third generation being the last to be demanded.

In countries like Nigeria human rights violations is a major problem that affects a substantial number of people. Governments after governments have consistently and persistently failed to observe and respect human rights. Hence, human rights violation today in Nigeria manifest many forms: extra-judicial killings; assassinations; ritual murders; violation of freedom of association and assembly; violation of freedom of expression and the press, etc. The first- and second-generation rights are violated differently. While the first-generation rights are violated at pre-trial and trial stages, second generation rights are violated due the government’s failure/inability to respect these rights. There rights violations that are of interest to this study: arbitrary arrest and detention; denial of bail; torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; and rights violations in prison in the form of indecent accommodation, poor feeding, absence of medical facilities, mixing of inmates, etc. The extent of the violations manifested in these areas identified has been reported to be high over the years (see Jarma, 2000; Ajomo and Akagbue, 1991; Adeyemi, 1974; Odekunle, 2000; CLO, 1990; CDHR, 2001, etc).

There are a large number of people that pass through the criminal justice system whose rights may not necessarily be protected and promoted as provided for by international instruments and the laws of the country. The safe-guards, both international and local, are many (see Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 3, Article 4, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7, Article 8, Article 9, Article 10, Article 11, Article 12, Article 13, Article 18; Article 19, Article 20, Article 21, etc; Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders: Sections 15,16, 20, 21, 26, 38, 79, etc; African Union Charter on Human and Peoples Rights: Article 3, Article 4, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7, etc; Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution: Section 33, Section 34, Section 35, Section 36, etc; Nigerian Prison Service Standing Order Section 268). The provisions mainly focus on fair hearing and humane treatment of detainees.

1.2       Statement of Problem

Despite more than a decade of democratic governance and endorsement of universal declaration of human rights charter, Nigerians still face a lot of human rights violations. This is because contrary to democratic ethos, the state is still largely authoritarian in leadership and security operations (Akhaine and Chizea, 2011). Cases of human rights violations which McCulley (2013) described as becoming a culture of impunity in the country includes extra-judicial killings, illegal detention, destruction of property by security forces etc. Even studies by researchers (Adetoro, 2012a; Oladunjoye and Omemu, 2013; Udama, 2013; Ojo et al., 2014) acknowledged the role of extra-judicial killings of Mohammed Yusuf and other Boko Haram leaders in escalating the sectarian violence that nearly consumed the whole of North Eastern Nigeria. Kidnapping for ransom and rituals are also alarming (Agabe, 2013; Atoyebi, 2014). Other forms of human rights violations in Nigeria include motorists‟ harassment and extortion by security personnel, political assassinations, undemocratic imposition of candidates in leadership and intimidation of political opponents (Akhaine and Chizea, 2011); rape, child violation, education denial and domestic violence (Adesupo, 2013; Ayegboyin, 2013; Ayoola, 2013; Hamzat, 2013; Salahudeen, 2013). It is against these backgrounds that this paper examined the history of human rights violations in Nigeria, 1970-1999.

1.3       Research Objectives

The following research objectives guide the study;

1.      To examine the nature, extent and types of human rights violation

2.      To identify the socio-economic correlates of the violation of human rights

3.      To ascertain the possible remedies against the rights of human

4.      To provide concrete recommendations to policy makers and related institutions and agencies for the protection of human rights in Nigeria

1.4       Research Questions

In the light of all the problems mentioned above, the issue of human rights violation needs inquiry. Specifically, the research questions are:

1.      What is the nature, extent and types of human rights violation?

2.      What are the socio-economic correlates of the violation of human rights?

3.      What are the possible remedies against the rights of human?

4.      What concrete recommendations can be made to policy makers and related institutions and agencies for the protection of human rights in Nigeria?

1.5       Significance of The Study

This is a research that touches on the rights and freedoms of mainly under-privileged people. Thus, this research when completed and its recommendations implemented, such people will know more of their rights and freedom within the criminal justice system. This is because the research centers on suspects awaiting trial that constitute the bulk of the prison population and are adversely affected by the problems bedeviling the criminal justice system.

The research will help in highlighting those areas in which people have rights and whose violation by government agencies will not be possible once the people are aware of these rights especially those rights spelt out in the Constitution and other statute books. The research will also awaken the consciousness of people engaged in the dispensation of justice, so that they can cherish and respect the ethics of their profession. Therefore, when completed and the recommendations contained in the study implemented by the relevant authorities, corruption by criminal justice administrators, financial extortion, infringement on human rights and undue harassment and repression meted out to suspects awaiting trial will be drastically reduced if not completely eradicated.

The research will be of benefit to policy makers since the study is intended to highlight areas of human rights violation with a view to making corrections.  This will benefit the country since respect for human rights is now a yardstick for international recognition and acceptance.

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