The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for tougher measures to prevent what it described as “avoidable deaths” in detention facilities across the country.
The association also warned that no operative of any government agency should subject Nigerians to torture or other forms of abuse, stressing the need for detention centres to operate in line with Nigerian laws and internationally recognised human rights standards.
Chairperson of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Dr. Uju Agomoh, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday during a press briefing ahead of the section’s annual conference.
The conference, themed “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development,” is scheduled to hold in Abia next month.
Agomoh said the NBA-SPIDEL was concerned about the state of detention facilities and the need to strengthen oversight mechanisms to protect the rights and dignity of detainees.
Her comments followed reports that no fewer than 37 miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
According to her, the upcoming conference would examine some of the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s justice system, democracy and development.
“We will explore practical strategies for strengthening legal aid, promoting alternative and non-custodial measures, improving detention oversight and ensuring that the justice system remains responsive to the needs of ordinary Nigerians,” she said.
Agomoh added that the NBA-SPIDEL would continue to draw attention to the need to prevent deaths and abuses in places of detention and ensure compliance with legal and human rights standards.
She further said the conference would examine the role of lawyers in strengthening democratic institutions and defending constitutional governance.
The NBA-SPIDEL chairperson also highlighted corruption and illicit financial flows, including the financing of terrorism, as issues that require stronger legal and institutional responses.
She, however, stressed that efforts to protect public resources and national security must not undermine human rights or due process.
Agomoh noted that democracy could not be sustained through elections alone, stressing the importance of strong institutions, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, independent oversight and an informed citizenry.
She also argued that economic growth that excludes significant sections of society cannot amount to sustainable development, adding that effective institutions, responsible governance and access to justice were essential to national development.
She said meaningful reform required collaboration among lawyers, judges, government institutions, justice-sector agencies, civil society organisations, academics, development partners, the media and citizens.
International participants from the judiciary, legal profession, government, civil society, academia, development institutions, security and justice sectors are expected to attend the conference.
