NHRC briefs Nigeria's Attorney Gen on its activities.

The Hon. Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has expressed the readiness of his Ministry to provide necessary support needed in the pursuit of promotion of accountability for human rights violations in the Country.

The HAGF made this known while receiving a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission who paid him a working visit at the Justice Ministry in Abuja.

The Minister who expressed delight over the visit said it was timely and that his office is interested in identifying and working with relevant bodies to address cases of human rights violation especially the issue of suspects in custody.

Mr. Malami revealed that the Justice Ministry in collaboration with the Military and the Office of National Security Adviser have concluded the profiling of insurgents in custody in Kainji, Niger state and will soon commence the trial in court, of those found culpable.

The Attorney General said the essence of the profiling of the insurgents in custody is for proper identification and location should any need arise for them to be traced after they may have been tried and released from custody.

The Minister disclosed to the NHRC delegation that about five hundred insurgents in custody at Giwa Barracks in Borno State have been relocated to prison custody to decongest the detention facility in the barracks while efforts are being made to fast-track their prosecution.

Mr. Mallami 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 Acting Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission 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 Hon. Attorney General to use the instrumentality of his office to hold accountable, Military officers who in one way or the other are guilty of violating the rights of civilians during the counter insurgency operations in the North East.

Mrs. Ovrawah revealed that the Commission in collaboration with the European Union is carrying out a project on promoting accountability for human rights violations in counter insurgency operations in the North East. She said the military is being trained under the project to mainstream human rights into their operations.

While appreciating the AGF for receiving the NHRC delegation and pledging to present the National Action Plan to the Federal Executive Council, the Acting Executive Secretary said the Commission is also presently collaborating with Mac Arthur Foundation in investigating hate speeches and electoral violence in the country. “Those indicted will be recommended to the HAGF for prosecution or other necessary action” she said.

It would be recalled that the Commission’s project on hate speech and election violence is aimed at advocating for the establishment of election offences Commission in line with the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Panel which was also recently recommended by Chief Ken Nnamani Panel with the aim of handling cases of hate speech and election related violence.