CJN assures of Judiciary’s commitment to human rights protection

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to protecting human rights as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution and various international laws and treaties.

She stated this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at a conference titled “Proportional Force and Respect for Human Dignity: A Dialogue in Governance”, organised by the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with Citizen FM to mark the Commission’s 30th anniversary.

She emphasized that the judiciary remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and safeguard citizens’ rights.

According to her, human dignity, equality before the law, and respect for the inherent rights of all persons are core ideals that underpin every just society.

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Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was represented by the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, noted that public trust is strengthened and institutional legitimacy is reinforced when authority is exercised with restraint, discipline, and accountability.

She added that although the judiciary continues to protect rights and provide remedies when they are violated, safeguarding human rights requires collaboration among security agencies, policymakers, civil society, and an informed citizenry.

She said, “Whether in the courtroom, in the field of security operations, in policy making, or in civic engagement, we must ensure that human dignity remains the measure and motivation of all our actions. This is the surest path to stability, social cohesion, and justice.”

In his keynote speech, the Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas, SAN, called for deep reforms in Nigeria’s policing architecture and a renewed commitment to human dignity.

Professor Dakas stated that the proportional use of force by law enforcement is not merely a policing matter but a central governance issue that shapes public trust, democratic resilience, and the legitimacy of state authority.

He underscored the need for an institutionalized dialogue between citizens and law-enforcement agencies, stressing that peaceful societies are built on relationships and mutual respect rather than suspicion or confrontation.

He said, “The narrative of ‘citizens versus law enforcement’ is a myth we must retire. The right narrative should be ‘citizens with law enforcement,’ working side by side for justice, peace, and human dignity,” adding that the state’s monopoly on the use of force requires restraint, legality, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

The law professor warned that disproportionate force triggers governance crises, not just security challenges, citing the #EndSARS protests and the Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 2020 as painful examples.

He said, “When force is not governed by strict necessity and professionalism, the state loses moral authority. The Lekki Toll Gate tragedy is a solemn reminder that force without proportionality erodes legitimacy.”

Drawing on findings from the continental Study on the Use of Force by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa, Professor Dakas outlined a comprehensive reform agenda for Nigeria.

Key recommendations, he said, include adopting rights-aligned national laws; strengthening training in de-escalation, communication, human rights, and crowd management; providing adequate less-lethal tools; and establishing independent oversight and complaint mechanisms, among others.

Professor Dakas called for sustained collaboration between the NLRC, NHRC, civil-society groups, security institutions, and the judiciary to ensure reforms are grounded in human-rights principles and operational realities.

He said, “By integrating monitoring insights, advocacy perspectives, and practical policing experience, Nigeria can build a system that strengthens accountability and public trust.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, called for deeper integration of human-rights principles into Nigeria’s security and law-enforcement operations.

Dr. Ojukwu emphasized that the application of force is not merely an operational issue but a constitutional responsibility, citing Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, and Section 34, which protects the dignity of the human person. He stressed that these rights must be upheld even in situations of insecurity or armed conflict.

He also highlighted the Anti-Torture Act 2017, warning that disproportionate force can quickly escalate into torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment—actions absolutely prohibited under Nigerian and international law.

The NHRC boss proposed that any instance of disproportionate force should be treated as such unless an officer’s good faith is proven beyond reasonable doubt.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s complex security landscape, he stressed that dialogue remains key to bridging the gap between legal principles and operational realities.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting security institutions through capacity building, documentation of violations, and follow-up engagements aimed at embedding human-rights practices in security operations.

The conference is expected to produce recommendations aimed at enhancing accountability, reinforcing human dignity, and promoting rights-compliant security management across the country.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE