A legal practitioner, Mr Osigwe Mike, has urged the human rights group to work as a team if they must achieve the aims of fighting the course of justice and educating the citizens on their fundamental rights.
Osigwe also admonished the human rights body on the need to operate within the ambit of the law in carrying out their responsibilities.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the new executive body of the Civil Liberty Organisation, (CLO), Lagos State branch on Saturday (today), Osigwe, while reeling out various rights enshrined in the constitution, noted that the society is not mature and there is need to preach the gospel of human rights.
According to him, “If you want to enforce human rights, we need to address the case of human rights violation in court. There is also the need to build a solid network to exchange information and ideas. Society is a dynamic one, we should first know our limitations before we ask for our rights so that society will be a better place for us all.”
In his inaugural speech, the new chairman, Comrade Enitan Joseph, called on governments at all levels not to relent on their responsibilities to protect both lives and properties of the people.
On the high rate of insecurity in the country, he said despite government’s effort in tackling the menace, some unscrupulous elements who benefit from the situation are sabotaging government’s efforts.
Joseph also admonished all security agencies and the media to partner with the association in compliance with the principles and practice of human rights in Nigeria by the government and its agencies.
“I humbly appeal to the government at the federal, state and local level as well as all government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of protecting both lives and properties not to relent on their statutory responsibilities, but double their efforts to achieve a peaceful and habitable nation,” he said.
The legal secretary of the CLO, Victor Oluseye urged the Nigerian Police to obey the rule of law in taking the confessional statement of a suspect.
He noted that the rights of a suspect should not be jeopardized, adding that police should ensure there is video recording of suspect statements as required by the law.
Also speaking on the activities of the human rights group, the Chairman Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Kehinde Adeoye, demanded justice in the case of Bamishe, who was allegedly killed by the BRT driver,
He expressed his displeasure over the delay through various adjournments on the pending case. He, therefore, called on the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba not to allow the case to be swept under the carpet.