The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has defended the human rights records of the Tinubu administration.
Fagbemi who spoke on Tuesday in commemoration of the World Human Rights Day said the administration is human rights friendly, considering the steps it has taken so far, since it came to office last year.
The AGF’s remark comes on the heels of the bashing the administration has received over the arrest of rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi by the police in Lagos.
The police said Farotimi, who has been arraigned in court in Ekiti state today, was arrrested following the allegation of defamation against him by popular Nigerian lawyer, Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Recall also that the Tinubu administration came under severe criticism, in October, following the public anger that greeted the arraignment, in Abuja of dozens of children who took part in the August #endbadgovernance protest.
Fagbemi who spoke during an event in Abuja, the nation’s capital, however said the release of the children was a proof that the administration respects human rights.
His office had earlier dismissed Global outcry on the government to release the children, claiming no law prevented children from being prosecuted.
Speaking at the event organised in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the AGF said human rights is prerequisite for building
“a just, equitable, and peaceful society.”
He said Nigeria still has so many hurdles to cross on the issue of human rights, insisting that progress has been made, adding that concrete steps, including legislations have been enacted to bolster the rights of the citizens.
“Notwithstanding, we recognise that there are still challenges to be addressed, and we recommit ourselves to working tirelessly to ensure that the rights of all Nigerians and every person living in Nigeria are respected, protected, and fulfilled,” Fagbemi said.
Adding that “In this regard, the federal government has taken concrete steps to strengthen the institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights.
“These include the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, the passage of the Anti-Torture Act, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, and the ratification of several international human rights treaties.
“I assure all Nigerians that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a human rights-friendly and listening government.
“Amongst other commendable steps taken by this government in the interest of justice and human rights is the discontinuation of the prosecution of children and young persons arraigned in court for treason following the end bad governance protests of August and October 2024.
“We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, the private sector, etc., to promote a culture of respect for human rights in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria has been ranked among top countries with worst human rights records in 2024.
According to the World Human Rights and Rule of Law Index, released recently Nigeria ranks 120 out of 140 countries scoring below average and falling behind countries like military-ruled Niger, gang-plagued El Salvador and war-torn Ukraine.
The index, compiled by the World Justice Project, assesses how nations uphold human rights and maintain the rule of law. It evaluates government constraints, corruption levels, openness, human rights protections, public order, regulatory enforcement and the effectiveness of civil justice systems.
Experts insist that Nigeria’s ranking has been on the plunge over the years.
Checks indicate that it plunged from 106th in 2020 to 121st in 2021, and climbed slightly to 118th in 2022, before falling back to 120th in both 2023 and 2024.
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