The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday urged magistrates to strictly adhere to the law while giving remand orders, cautioning them against carrying out such actions in the absence of properly filed charges.
The body further called on chief judges across the country to ensure that magistrates and judges periodically visit detention facilities. This, he noted, is in line with statutory provisions and critical to decongesting detention centres where countless individuals are held under inhumane conditions, often for minor or nonexistent offences.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe stated this at the International Human Rights Day celebration organised by the NBA Human Rights Institute.
The programmme was with the theme, ‘Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now: All Humans Are Born Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights’.
While stating further the critical importance of safeguarding human rights across Nigeria, Osigwe, in his address, highlighted the growing concerns surrounding human rights violations and called for decisive action by various stakeholders to address the issues.
He underscored the troubling practice of magistrates making remand orders without charges being filed against individuals, describing it as a significant contributor to prolonged and unlawful detention.
He said: “Magistrates should ensure they strictly adhere to the law and ensure that no remand orders are made in the absence of properly filed charges.
“Chief judges across the country should ensure that magistrates and judges periodically visit detention facilities in line with statutory provisions and critical to decongesting detention centers, where countless individuals are held under inhumane conditions, often for minor or nonexistent offences.”
Recognising the role of the NBA Human Rights Institute, the President stated further: “The institute serves as a platform for NBA branches to address human rights issues swiftly and effectively.
“All NBA branches are hereby enjoined to utilise this platform in addressing human rights violations and ensuring justice is served.
“NBA is also advocating for a stronger working relationship between security agencies and the NBA to address the alarming incidence of human rights abuses by some security personnel.”
