Posted by By SAMUEL OGIDAN, Abuja. on
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Andoakaa has called on law enforcement agencies to strictly observe the fundamentals and ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Andoakaa has called on law enforcement agencies to strictly observe the fundamentals and ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties.
Aandoakaa who gave this directive in Abuja at the conference on public safety and security organized by the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Mac Arthur Foundation, said his office has been flooded with complaints of human rights violations by the Police in discharge of their statutory duties.
The Attorney General who spoke through the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi Yola stated that the administration of Yar'Adua is committed to ensuring the protection of lives and property.
"All Public Servants to appreciate the fact that their positions and powers either in uniform or otherwise derive their legitimacy from the people of Nigeria whose rights as guaranteed by the Constitution must be respected and preserved," he further stated.
Lamenting the volume of complaints received by the Human Right Commission, Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni, the Executive Secretary of National Human Right said the bulk of the complaints allege human right violations against the Police.
He added that the Commission "has been collaborating with the Nigeria Police in various areas including training of personnel and curricular development with a view to providing a new orientation for Police. Part of this effort is the establishment of human right desks in all police formations across the country."
Also speaking on the occasion, the Chairperson of the occasion and the Executive Director of NOPRIN, Dr. Lydia Umar said the gathering is purposely put together for all hands to be on deck on the issue of safety and security in Nigeria and also to provide appropriate policy that would checkmate abuse of people's rights.