The federal government has warned law- enforcement, prosecuting agencies and their officers against maltreatment and torturing of suspects in their custody saying, such acts would no longer be tolerated.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said that unprofessional conducts such as illegal detention, extra-judicial killings, torture, continued use of violence, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by law -enforcement and prosecuting officers were unacceptable and must be avoided at all times.
Malami spoke during a two-day-workshop on national strategy for implementation of the Anti -Torture Act (2017), organized by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEPAD) in collaboration with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), National Committee Against Torture (NCAT) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Represented by the Deputy Director Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dr. Chris Emeiregbo, the minister said that the Anti -Torture Act, (2017), which was passed by the 8th National Assembly shows that President Muhammadu Buhari has zero tolerance for the continued use of violence, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by law- enforcement officers.
He said that ‘’the federal government is committed to the prohibition of tortuous acts in line with the international best practice, the rule of law and sound legal principles.
‘’The Act lists comprehensive provision for penalizing acts of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment by all security agencies and prosecuting agencies to ensure strict compliance of the provisions of the Act and other relevant laws in place to ensure justice and fairness.
‘’I need to speak here at this juncture that the Act provides a punishment of 25 years or not more than 25 years for any acts of torture and in the course of the act of torture, if the victim dies, it becomes a murder case and such persons as involved would have to face a murder charge.”
Executive Secretary, NHRC, Tony Ojukwu in his remarks lamented that infractions of rights to freedom from torture and ill -treatment have remained one of the highest recorded human rights violations in Nigeria.
Commending LEPAD and partners for the initiative, Ojukwu said that signing into law the Anti- Torture Act (2017) was a bold statement against all acts of physical harm.
He urged participants at the workshop to come up with strategies that would aid result- oriented implementation of the Act, adding that “every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly, no person shall be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.
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“It is instructive to note that the right to freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment is so important that there are no circumstances that justify the use of torture, cruel or degrading treatment.
“No doubt, the signing into law of the Anti -Torture Act is a bold statement against all acts of physical harm, force, violence, threat, intimidation or act that impair the free will of all persons including suspects, detainees and prisoners.
“I am therefore, hopeful that the participants, who have been carefully selected, will articulate strategies to aid result oriented implementation of the Anti Torture Act, (2017).”
Earlier in her opening remarks, representative of the Human Rights Agenda Network, Chisom Ihekwaba, expressed worry that despite several incidences of torture in the country, there has been no conviction nearly three years after the Act was passed into law.
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