Falana tasks Lagos Assembly on human rights protection, advocates for committee’s independence

Femi Falana SAN has counseled that the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) be more enabled by the Lagos state government to afford them more independence that leads to efficiency, given the state’s intendment to create Lagos State Human Rights Committee.

The legal luminary and dogged human rights advocate made this call at a stakeholders parley held on Bill for A Law to Amend The Office of The Public Defender Law,2015, organised by the House committee on Judiciary,Human Rights,Public Petitions &LASIEC on Wednesday.

Falana maintained that to allow for Independence of the body as applicable in other climes, given need for both local and International interface coupled the fact that the said violation could be perpetrated by one wielding a vested power.

He situated the need for the proposed creation as an offshoot of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry against police brutality led by Justice Okuwobi.

“I want to suggest if you will have a human rights body that will be respected locally and internationally it has to be an independent body.

“Independent of the government because some of the complaints are going to centre around excesses or abuse of human rights by officials.

“Following the protest against police brutality in October 2020 all the governors in the country resolved through National Economic Council to set up a judicial commission of enquiry in each of the states, after which a human rights committee will be set up in every state of the country.

What Lagos have done through the house of Assembly is to fulfill that commitment and for me it is very commendable. Some states have not even released the report of their own panels but as you are aware Lagos have issued the white paper.

“ Some compensation have been paid and if you looked at the paper here is asking this committee to take over the pending cases that the Okuwobi panel could not conclude, this I am sure will set the pace for other states in the country.”

The Chairman of the committee on Judiciary,Human Rights,Public Petitions &LASIEC Honourable Victor Akande however, stated that in the state legislature’s proactive mien to guarantee a level of independence for the committee to operate there are little or no bottle necks.

As senior officer from the Nigerian Armed Forces namely the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force will be part of the committee to ease need to invite officers that might be found culpable.

The OPD Director Mrs Olubunmi Adesomoju however, pleaded for more enablement to function given the enormity of the added task.

“Human rights violation is a greater dimension, OPD is ready to take more responsibilities as long as we are empowered to do so with Human Rights Committee .

Mrs. Sowemimo from the Ministry of Justice said the State intends to implement the recommendations of the panel of inquiry into the EndSARS.

She added that the amendment being sought was an attempt to put that in motion as well as monitor and observe its efficiency in the system.

Mrs. Semi Ogunfowode, Chief State Counsel from the Citizens Mediation Centre, commended the process in relation to the bill adding that it was proof that the government was concerned and particular about the people of Lagos State.