‘Breach of Right to Express’: Activists Claim Court Restrains…

Nigeria Suffering From Human Rights Violations Despite Democratic Progress…

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says Nigerians are still suffering from rights violations despite the country’s progress in democratic practice. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, said there was the need to entrench the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms to curtail the current challenges bedeviling the country. Mr. Ojukwu, who also noted that there was a general lack of political will to hold perpetrators accountable, spoke on the occasion of Nigeria’s June 12 Democracy Day in Abuja. readmore

Atrocity Alert No. 257: Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, and Afghanistan

Nigeria Faces New Security Crisis as Bandits Kill 150 People

Communities in northwest Nigeria are coming under increased attack from armed groups – described as “bandits” by locals – who are engaged in organized cattle-rustling, kidnapping, plunder, murder and rape. At least 88 people were killed when bandits attacked seven villages in Kebbi state on 3 June. Less than a week later, on 8 June, armed groups attacked Munawa, Malele, and Randa villages in Zamfara state and kidnapped 60 women. Then from 10-11 June, armed men on motorcycles attacked the villages of Kadawa, Kwata, Maduba, Ganda Samu, Saulawa and Askawa in Zamfara state, killing more than 50 people. readmore

ECOWAS Court Hears Motion Against Twitter Ban June 22

The Rise of Isis Means Boko Haram’s Decline is…

For more than a decade, Nigerian security services and their international supporters have struggled to end Boko Haram’s brutal reign of terror over north-eastern Nigeria. But few observers of the conflict are celebrating – even though it appears increasingly likely that Abubakar Shekau, the Islamist extremist movement’s notoriously violent leader, is dead, its strongholds overrun and remaining fighters scattered. readmore

Falana Writes US President, Biden Over Detained Venezuelan Envoy

Femi Falana (SAN), the human rights lawyer and counsel for Alex Saab, special envoy of the Venezuelan government, says the continued detention of his client by the Cape Verdean authorities is illegal. Saab was arrested on June 12, 2020, after his private jet made a stopover at Cape Verde on his way to Iran for a humanitarian mission on behalf of the Venezuelan government.  readmore

Nigeria: Military, OSIWA Differ On Calls to Compel Terrorists…

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has tasked the human rights community to mount pressure on Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ASWAP) fighters to drop their weapons and come to the negotiation table. However, the executive director, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Aisha Osori, said it is not the duty of the human rights groups to do so. readmore

Separatist Movements in Nigeria and Cameroon Are Joining Forces

ICCLVC 2021: 15. International Conference on Criminal Law, Victims…

The International Conference on Criminal Law, Victims and Compensation will take place between 3-4 June 2021, and it aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Criminal Law, Victims and Compensation. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Criminal Law, Victims and Compensation. readmore

Dominic Ongwen sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment

6 May 2021, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court (ICC or Court) sentenced Dominic Ongwen to 25 years of imprisonment following the Trial Judgment in which the Chamber found him guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. The period of his detention between 4 January 2015 and 6 May 2021, will be deducted from the total time of imprisonment imposed on him. The sentence may be appealed before the ICC Appeals Chamber by either party to the proceedings. readmore