The National Human Rights Commission has issued a new directive to law enforcement agencies and their officers warning them against maltreatment and torturing of suspects in their custody.The NHRC, in a statement by its Head, Media Relations, Mrs. Fatimah Mohammad, on Sunday, said an act of disobedience of its directive could attract six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N100, 000 or both.

The new Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, was said to have issued the warning in Abuja in a “Directive on Treatment of Accused Persons and Suspects by Law Enforcement Officers” while decrying “the flagrant disrespect for human rights by some law enforcement personnel in the course of their duties.”

The statement said Ojukwu warned that the commission “will take the necessary steps to ensure that such officials are brought to justice.”

He was said to have called on the law enforcement agencies and their officers to abide by the provisions of “the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for Treatment of Persons under any form of detention; the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and other legislations and international instruments to which Nigeria is a party in carrying out their lawful duties.”

“All these instruments are in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to promote respect for human rights in law enforcement,” Ojukwu was quoted as saying.

He was also said to have reminded the relevant agencies that by virtue of Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria “every person charged with an offence shall be presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The statement added, “Against the foregoing, Ojukwu reiterated the powers of the commission to sanction persons or institutions that disobey the lawful directives of the commission, which he said attracts six months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 or both.

“He regretted that the lack of respect for human rights in law enforcement attracts negative impressions about Nigeria and this has affected the flow of foreign investments into Nigeria

“The Chief Executive Officer of the NHRC stated that the commission is determined more than ever before to ensure that the rights of detainees are adequately protected by ensuring that they are fairly treated during the process of their investigation and trial.”

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