By Our Correspondent in Lokoja
Kogi State Government has inaugurated a 10-man Human Rights Special Intervention Group (HRSIG) committee to help respond to the legal needs of victims of human right abuse, to enable them have access to justice.
The Director-General, Office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission (PDCRC) in Kogi, Abdullahi Zakari, inaugurated the committee in Lokoja.
He said the setting up of the committe was also against the persistence violations of the rights of Kogi residents and the inability of the vulnerables to access justice.
Zakaria described the inauguration of the committee as a timely response by “the pro youth and pro poor Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello”, to ensur that human rights of residents and citizens of the state is secured.
He explained that due to the #EndSars protest, the governor identified with the youth and promised to set up a special Committee to handle the brutality of the law enforcement officers, which culminated this inauguration.
Zakari,who noted that the committee members were drawn from relevant agencies, based on their track records, urged them to consider their service to God and humanity.
He enjoined members of the committee to respond to issues of domestic violence and abuses, directly arises from Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution and all other issues pertaining to violation of the fundamental human rights of residents in the state.
The director general added that the committee would respond to illegal arrest and detention by law enforcement officers, and submit monthly report to PDCRC; and to carry out assignments that may be assigned from time to time by the commission.
He noted that the committee was constituted on the instruction of the governor, to operate under the Office of the PDCRC.
The director-general recalled that PDCRC was established on June 3, 2019 to respond to needs of access to justice by indigents and ensuring the protection of their human rights.
Zakari explained that the commission’s mandate also includes provision of legal services for those who could not afford the cost of hiring lawyers, and to protect citizenry against the brutality and infringement of human rights by law enforcement agencies.
He commended the governor for his quick response to the yearnings of the populace as he undertook sweeping reforms of the criminal justice system.
Zakari noted that the State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Ibrahim Sani Mohammed SAN, had been in the forefront of many great reforms in Criminal Justice sector.
”It is one of the reforms of the attorney-general that led to the establishment of PDCRC.
”Kogi State is one of the very few states that have PDCRC to response to the need of access to justice as a critical function of Government.
”The law is to address among other things; the delay in dispensation of cases, provide legal representation for those who couldn’t afford the services of lawyers while being interrogated by law enforcement officers,”he said.
He applauded the governor for his concern for the lawyers who he said were enjoying special salaries like their counterparts in the Magistrates in the State.
He disclosed that the Commission played roles akin to Legal Aid Council, and the National Human rights Commission. Presently, adding that the Commission was staffed with 12 law officers posted from the Chambers of the Attorney-General.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Commission, Muizideen Abdullahi, charged members of the HRSIG to stand up to the challenges and treat the assignment with all the attention it deserved, reminding them that it was a call to serve humanity.
He commended the Governor, for being proactive in responding to the ongoing protest on EndSARS before degenerating into lawlessness, while assuring members of the committee of government’s support to enable it succeed.
The Reporters reports that members of the committee include: I.O. Alhassan, Chairman; Isaac Adeiza, Secretary. Other members were Iye Adama, DSC Atodo Adama , Asp Mohammed Bala.; M.M Nuhu, Debora Ebiloma and Olarenwaju Atoto.
The members of the Committee are drawn from the Police, DSS, Civil Defence Corps, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice, NBA, and Office of PDCRC.
In his acceptance speech, the Committee Chairman, who doubles as the Vice Chairman of NBA Lokoja branch, assured of his commitment to ensuring the delivery of the mandate of the committe to the best of members’ ability.
In their separate remarks, representatives of the Attorney General of the State, Police, ActionAid , DSS, NSCDC, NHRC, FIDA commended the Government for the initiative, assuring it of their readiness to support the cause of Justice.
They called on the members of the committee to exhibit the highest character in the discharge of their mandate.
