The National Human Rights Commission has condemned Gloria Okolie's incarceration, which the Nigerian Police Force is reported to have done illegally.
Tony Ojukwu, the commission's Executive Secretary, urged that the captive be released immediately, failing which she should be charged in court to exercise her right to a fair hearing.
On Tuesday, the NHRC issued a statement headed "Release Gloria Okolie unconditionally or charge her to court, NHRC charges police," in which its spokesperson, Fatima Mohammed, expressed the commission's opinion on the subject.
"The National Human Rights Commission has decried the practice of some law enforcement agencies illegally detaining citizens for longer than the Constitutionally stipulated ‘reasonable' time, saying that such an unwholesome act is a gross violation of human rights and must be accounted for to serve as a deterrent," the statement read.
"Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, stated this in Abuja in response to the alleged illegal detention of one Gloria Okolie by Nigerian Police Authorities for over 67 days, observing that such unprofessional conduct cannot be tolerated in 21st Century policing and that perpetrators of such heinous crime must be brought to justice immediately.
"Learning that the victim was used as a slave girl to the officers while jailed and was horribly abused, cleaning clothing, being sent on errands to buy things for officers, and being tortured by some of the police in charge of her detention," the statement stated in part.
"We will not hesitate to condemn such unprofessional conduct which undoubtedly resulted in further violation of the rights of the lady in question because her rights to freedom of movement and liberty among several others had been allegedly violated with impunity by the very personnel charged with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens.
"On our part as a national institution saddled with the responsibilities of promotion, protection and enforcement of rights of citizens and foreigners resident in Nigeria, we have not missed any available opportunity to educate and train Police personnel and indeed other law enforcement agents on human rights issues, the NHRC Act (as amended) as well as other National, Regional and International human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
"Besides, the Executive Secretary recalled efforts of the Commission in assisting the government to reform and reposition the Nigerian Police Force, saying that in-depth investigations into cases of human rights violations by the Independent Investigation Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct SARS conducted by the Commission and the various states are testimonies to our determination to bring sanity to the system and banish impunity like SARS was disbanded," it stated.
Ojukwu reiterated that no legal framework approves the act of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment but expressed displeasure that some adamant law enforcement officers were acting based on their whims and caprices to engage in dishonourable conduct of debasing and subjecting their fellow human beings to treat humans in such manner.
"It is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and other relevant Bills of Rights to which Nigeria is a party.
"The Executive Secretary reiterated that the Commission will not hesitate to compel the police to do its duties if it does not take necessary legal and constitutional action on the case of Gloria Okolie and other citizens being held illegally without further delay," it added.
Punch
Disclaimer: Comments and opinions on any part of this website are the opinions of blog commenters or anonymous individuals, and do not reflect Strenuous Blog position.