- Safiu Kehinde
Human Rights activists and lawyers, Deji Adeyanju and Inibehe Effiong, have been members of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Citizens’ Liberties Committee.
The duo were appointed yesterday following the inauguration of new NBA President, Afam Osigwe, in Lagos.
Reacting to the appointment in a post on his X handle yesterday, Inibehe expressed his gratitude to the NBA President, describing the appointment to the newly established committee as a call to service.
“I have been appointed by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), @afamosigwe SAN, as a member of the newly established Citizens’ Liberties Committee (CLC) of NBA.
“I thank Mr. President for offering me this very important platform to serve humanity.
“I see this appointment as a call to service, and I shall do my best to assist the NBA President and the NBA generally through this important committee to secure the liberties of Nigerians.” He wrote.
Meanwhile, the new NBA President, Osigwe, highlighted the roles of the committee- one of which include collaborations with NBA Branches for the monthly inspection of Police stations and other detention facilities across Nigeria.
As quoted by Inibehe, Osigwe said “The Citizens’ Liberties Committee ‘shall collaborate with the NBA branches to liaise with the Chief Judges of the States and the FCT to ensure that all Police stations and other detention facilities in each State of the Federation and the FCT are visited and inspected by Magistrates and Judges once a month, in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law.’
“The President further stated that the CLC ‘shall also direct the Human Rights Committee of each branch of the NBA to accompany Chief Magistrates and Judges to conduct monthly inspections of all Police Stations and other detention facilities in Nigeria, in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law.
“It shall also encourage citizens to participate in the monitoring and inspections of Police Stations and other detention facilities by Magistrates and Judges and to report through the Human Rights Committee of Branches.”