Expert Urges Govt To Check Human Rights Abuses

A Port Harcourt-based lawyer and human rights crusader, Chijioke Agi, has called on both the state and the federal governments to check human rights abuses in the country.
Agi who made the call in Port Harcourt on Monday while speaking with journalists remarked that life expectancy in Nigeria had been whittled down as a result of the security situation in the country.
He said domestic violence was rapidly increasing because of discontent over worsening economic woes.
He pointed out that the parlous of the nation was bedevilled by poor leadership and high level of corruption among political office holders.
Mr Agi expressed regrets that the country’s police force had become synonymous with festering corruption and averred that reformation of the country’s police system had become long overdue.
He said human rights abuses by law enforcement agents had considerably increased.
The Port Harcourt lawyer said law enforcement agents were rapidly encroaching within the purview of civil civil jurisdiction because of cupidity.
Mr Agi stated that the police were the worst violators of the law they were expected to uphold.
He said that the police had acquired a level of distrust and notoriety and made justice available to the highest bidder.
He said that the police were doing so because checks and balances were not working effectively and efficiently.
The lawyer noted that despite the laudable provisions of the administration of criminal justice laws of various states, the justice system had continued to wobble.
According to him, the rule of law must be the lever on which our society revolves. We cannot afford to get along with self-help.
He explained that the law enforcement agents must apply the rule of law in their dealings with the society.
Mr Agi called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to evolve a way of checking human rights abuses by his policemen.

By: John Enyie