The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said it received 7,466 alleged rights violation complaints this year in Bauchi State.
Our correspondent reports that the number was received between January to August 2023, which is the year of Nigeria’s general elections.
The Coordinator of NHRC Bauchi State Office, Yachit Susan Dala disclosed this while speaking during a Step-Down training on the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) organized by CLEEN Foundation in Bauchi on Thursday.
Represented by the Principal Programme Analyst NHRC, Mr Ortese Felix Mimi, Dala said the cases are related to either prolonged detention or illegal arrest and other rights violations.
She said out of the 7,466 cases that the commission received, only 15 cases are connected to illegal detention, arrest and other forms of violations.
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“For instance, in 2019 we recorded about 78 cases when we came and the majority of these cases were civil and political rights-based. This year, between January and August we have recorded about 7,466 cases and out of the 7,466 cases, only about 15 were bothered on issues such as prolonged detention and illegal arrest,” Dala said.
She added that the commission follows up on cases received to ensure they are factual before engaging relevant stakeholders.
The Coordinator further added that some of the complaints received pertain to human rights violations against some law enforcement agencies, adding that the commission ensures fair hearing to parties in its efforts to mediate.
“Right to a fair hearing is also a fundamental human right. When there is a complaint against you, we try to get the other side of the story to enable us to take further action.
“I think the police and other law enforcement agencies are using the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) has contributed to the reduction of complaints received by the commission in the state,” she said.
WikkiTimes recalls that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed signed into law the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in 2022. The State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar chairs the monitoring committee on the implementation of the law in the state.
