Presidential Panel Begins Hearing on Alleged Rights Abuses by Army, Others

The Presidential Panel of Investigation set up to review
compliance of the military on rules of engagement has
commenced hearing in Port Harcourt.
Justice Biobele Georgewill, Chairman of the panel, on
Monday said the panel would listen to stakeholders from
the south-south region over alleged human rights violations
by the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
He said the panel would take receipt of memorandum from
state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders,
non-governmental organisations, civil society
organisations, human right groups and other stakeholders.
“It is gratifying to inform that the panel has been receiving
memoranda from across the country as we intend to hold
public hearings in each of the six geopolitical zones.
“We have concluded our sitting in Maiduguri (Adamawa) for
the North-east zone, and now, we are in Port Harcourt for
the South-south zone from September 25 to September 28.
“The public sitting will attend to all memoranda submitted
to the panel from all the south-south states and thereafter,
move to other remaining zones of the country. “This
arrangement will provide the opportunity for all those who
submitted a memorandum to make presentations before the
panel sittings at each of the zones,” he said.
Georgewill, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
said the hearing was a unique opportunity for individuals,
groups, and organisations to present verifiable evidence of
alleged human rights abuses by the armed forces.
He said the panel would accept and attend to new
memorandum at the venue of the sittings, saying the move
was for the overall interest of justice and fairness.
According to him, the penal inaugurated on Aug. 11 by Vice
President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was mandated to
investigate alleged crimes against humanity by the military
in tackling local armed conflicts. “The panel is mandated to
review extant rules of engagement applicable to the armed
forces of Nigeria and the extent of compliance thereto.
“To investigate alleged acts of violations of international
humanitarian and human rights laws; and to investigate
matters of conduct and discipline in the armed forces in
local conflicts and insurgencies.
“To recommend means of preventing violations of
international humanitarian and human rights law in conflict
situations, and to make further recommendations in line
with these terms of reference,” he said.
Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, the General Officer Commanding
(GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt,
commended the federal government and expressed
confidence over the conduct of the exercise. He said claims
by Amnesty International (AI) that the army carried out
human rights abuses in North-east was unfounded and a
calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the army.
“The Amnesty International with aid of Social Media
wrongly presently the Nigerian Army as the enemy of the
Nigerian state which is quite spurious.
“The Nigerian army will continue to protect the territorial
integrity of the country and will do so by conducting itself
professionally with absolute submission to the rule of law,”
he said.
In his submission, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, lead
counsel of the army, said that Amnesty International report
was littered with contradictions and falsehood.
He said the absence of AI at the sitting was regrettable and
clear indication that the organisation was bent on creating
mistrust among citizens towards the military.
“AI was biased in its report as they were not on the ground
to access the situation but only relied on telephone calls
and selected interviews without hearing from the military,
he argued.
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers,
Mr Omubo Frank-Briggs, urged the military not to see the
exercise as an attempt to witch-hunt them.
“Nigerians should come out en-masse and tell their stories
so that those who are innocent are freed while others found
wanting are sanctioned.
“The Federal Government should expand the scope of the
panel to investigate other alleged human right abuses by
the Police and other law enforcement, especially in Rivers
state,” he said.
The other organisations present at the sitting are Save
Humanity Advocacy; Human Rights Commission; the Air
Force and Navy, among others. Amnesty International
recently released a damning report accusing the Nigerian
armed forces of carrying out human right abuses in its
operations in North-east and other regions.