FG panel on human right abuses call on Falana, Boko Haram suspects to present case

AN Investigation Panel set up by Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN to review compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement, on Tuesday, called on Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana and other counsels representing Boko Haram suspects to come forward and present their cases before the panel.

Chairman of the 9 man panel, Honorable Justice Biobel Abraham Georgewill made the call on the second day of the tribunal hearing holding in Lagos.

Calling on Falana and other counsels to come forward with their allegations of human rights abuses, Justice said it is imperative that people in Southwest with allegations against the armed forces should appear before the panel.

He also called on interested parties to join the panel members to a one-day fact-finding mission to Kirikiri Maximum Prisons where many Boko Haram suspects are being held.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the panel also heard how a Sergeant with the Nigerian Army killed an Okada rider by viciously kicking him in the stomach.

While being led in evidence by a representative of the National Human Rights Commission, the brother of the deceased, Salihu Mohammad recounted that his brother Abubakar Alhaji died a day after he was brutalized by one Sergeant Taiwo Owoeye of the Nigerian Army.

“The incident happened on the 27th of January 2017. According to what I gathered, my late brother picked up a passenger on his motorcycle around Morrocco in Yaba.

“He parked his motorcycle behind a stationary car, not knowing that there was someone in the car. Suddenly, the car reversed, and my brother hit the body of the car in order to notify the occupant that there was someone behind him.

“Sergeant Taiwo Owoeye angrily got down from his car and slapped my brother twice. He thereafter proceeded to kick him several times in the stomach.

“When onlookers challenged him, he said that there was nothing anybody could do even if my brother dies.

“My brother thereafter became unconscious and we had to rush him to the military hospital. By that time he had started vomiting blood and other things. He could not talk.

“He sadly died the next day. We reported the matter at the Panti Police Station where they declined to give us a police report.

“My brother’s body was not released to us for burial until after four months. When we inquired about the reason for the delay, we were told that the army was trying to conduct an autopsy,” Mohammed said.

The panel also dismissed a petition by a civilian accused to conspiracy blow up the presidential helicopter in 2004.

According to the Army, the petitioner Mohammad Onwuchekwa Okorie was accused of treason and conspiring with others to blow up the presidential helicopter sometimes in 2004, which is a treasonable offence.

He was also accused of unlawful importation of arms.

According to the army. Okorie was arrested on orders of the Department of State Security while an investigation was conducted by a special panel created by the Federal Government.

In the petition, Okorie challenged his detention in the military prison, adding that he was made to endure inhuman treatment and torture for the four years he was incarceration.

“I was wrongfully accused of being a missile importer. 76 military officers were arrested when I was also arrested. A military plane was sent from Nigeria to Ghana, Lome and even Ivory Coast in connection with the charges,” Okorie claimed.

However dismissing the petition, the head of the panel, Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill said Okorie’s petition did not fall within the scope of the terms of preference of the panel.

“The situation weaved around this panel does not apply to the charges of treason and felony. This panel’s focus on the issues that border on the fundamental rights of citizens.

“This panel lacks the jurisdiction this petition and it is hereby declined, “the panel ruled.

The terms of reference of the panel include: to review extant rules of engagement applicable in the Armed Forces of Nigeria and extent of compliance, to investigate alleged acts of violation of international humanitarian and human rights law under the Constitution of the Federal Republic, 1999 (as amended), Geneva Conventions Act, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and other relevant laws by the Armed Forces in local conflicts and insurgencies.

The panel was also set up to investigate matters of conduct and discipline in the Armed Forces in local conflicts and insurgencies.