“It’s a call to service” -Rights Activist Effiong
By Ime Silas
Akwa Ibom-born rights activist and Lagos-based lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, Esq. has been appointed into the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Citizens’ Liberties Committee with a charge, among others, to encourage citizens to participate in the monitoring and inspections of Police Stations and other detention facilities by Magistrates and Judges.
The fierce lawyer who broke the news of his appointment via his verified Social Media handles described it as a call to service.
In the post tagged “My Appointment Into NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee Is A Call To Service”, Inibehe said:
“I have been appointed by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe 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”.
He stated further “According to the newly inaugurated President of the Bar, “It is believed that thousands of citizens are suffering in unlawful custody in many detention facilities/centres in all the States of the Federation. The Association no doubt has a crucial role to play in monitoring and ensuring that the requisite authorities carry out their statutory duties of inspecting Police Stations and other detention facilities in the various States of Nigeria and the FCT.”
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.”
Other members of the Committee are: Nuhu Egya (Chairman) Malachy Ugwumadu (Alternate Chair), Adeyanju Deji, and Maxwell Opara.
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.
I congratulate the NBA President and all members of the National Executive Committee of the NBA on their inauguration”.