‘Falana’s Attack On Navy’s Illegal Detention Of 40 Persons, Unwarranted’

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), yesterday, said that an alleged attack on it by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) over his claim of illegal detention of certain 40 persons by the Nigerian Navy was unwarranted.
In a statement by the NHRC’s Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Lambert Oparah, the commission said it was not to blame for the alleged illegal detention.
Although, the statement condemned the alleged illegal detention, it said it was not its duty to enforce the court order for the detainees’ release.
It added that the human rights lawyer did not show that he had approached the court to enforce the order directing the release of the detainees.
The commission was reacting to a threat of legal action against it in the event of the Navy’s failure to release the detainees.
Falana, in his August 5, 2019 letter, whose content was widely published by the media, also criticised the commission for failing to sanction the Navy for the alleged illegal detention.
But the NHRC said it had first received Falana’s letter of May 20, 2019.
It said, “The commission also wishes to state unequivocally that although it is empowered to protect and enforce human rights, it does not have the mandate of enforcing court orders in a situation where counsel have the capacity to move the court to enforce its own orders made in favour of their clients.