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ICC begins probe into alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters
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- UN rights experts say govt has questions to answer
The International Criminal Court says it has commenced a preliminary investigation into the recent #EndSARS protests in Nigeria.
This is coming as UN human rights experts have insisted that Nigerian government must set up a credible, independent inquiry into the reported illegal killing of peaceful protesters by soldiers.
A report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday quoted the ICC as saying this in a statement, adding its prosecutor had earlier confirmed receiving information on alleged crime.
The examination will “assess whether the legal criteria for opening an investigation under the Rome Statute are met.”
It recalled crowds of peaceful protesters had gathered on streets in major towns of the country demonstrating against police brutality, leading to a crackdown.
Amnesty International said security forces opened fire on protesters, killing and injuring a number of people. Both the police and the army have rejected Amnesty’s allegation.
The ICC said it would make findings of the preliminary examination public.
The development is coming after a number of civil society organisations (CSO) threatened to report some heads of security agencies to the ICC over the conduct of their personnel during the demonstrations, popularly called #EndSARS protests.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has since dismissed the threats to report him and some heads of security agencies to the ICC and other international authorities.
“They have continually threatened to report the NA to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also threatened various forms of sanctions against personnel and their families,” Buratai had said.
“Criminal elements are threatening us with travel ban but we are not worried because we must remain in this country to make it better.”
Meanwhile, some UN human rights experts have said, “Since 2005, UN Special Rapporteurs have repeatedly raised the issue of police killings and impunity with the Nigerian government,” the experts said.
They also said, “We have had 15 years of government promises, but nothing has changed. Governments come and go, but police brutality is as intractable as ever. Nigerians need justice.”
The experts noted that excessive use of force during peaceful assemblies was unacceptable, adding that the shootings at Lekki toll plaza in Lagos on 20 October were “especially disturbing because demonstrators were precisely calling for accountability for previous police brutality.”
“What is particularly disturbing is that the authorities said they had disbanded the SARS and agreed to the protestors other demands, including investigations,” the experts said. “But they immediately announced the formation of another similar unit and have not ended the excessive use of force.”
They recalled that protesters were met with water cannons, tear gas and live ammunition.
The fact that in the Lekki toll plaza incident CCTV cameras and lights were apparently switched off shortly before soldiers opened fire on the peaceful protestors indicates “a disturbing level of premeditation,” the experts said.
Systematic police brutality and use of excessive force against peaceful protesters must be independently and impartially investigated and the perpetrators brought to the justice, the human rights experts said.
In addition to setting up an independent inquiry, authorities must clarify why the military was deployed and who gave the order, the experts said. “Any investigation must aim to identify lines of responsibility, deliver accountability and justice, provide remedies and reparations, and recommend structural and systemic changes,” they said.
The experts also called on the government to release the reports of previous investigations into human rights violations by the security forces. These include the 2019 report by the National Human Rights Commission report on SARS and the 2018 report by the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement.
They stated, “The authorities have promised for years to address human rights violations by the security forces,” said the experts.
“Hundreds of victims and relatives of those who died have testified and sent petitions, but they never received any remedy, not even the acknowledgement that their rights were violated. It is crucial that the government releases all these reports to the public before they start new investigations.”
The experts have written directly to the Nigerian government, stressing that “it is high time that concrete action is taken to properly look into all incidents and that structural changes be made to prevent any re-occurrence.”
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Tinubu’s aide Ajuri Ngelale quits, proceeds on indefinite leave over family health
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Tinubu’s aide Ajuri Ngelale quits proceeds on indefinite leave over family health
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced his resignation, saying he is stepping down to focus on medical matters affecting his nuclear family.
Ngelale said he had submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of his decision to step down as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
He said in the statement that he was stepping down from the two roles to enable him to proceed on indefinite leave.
President Bola Tinubu had on 31 July, 2023 named Ajuri as his official spokesperson and special adviser on media and publicity.
On May 19 this year, the president gave him an additional responsibility in the administration by appointing him Nigeria’s special presidential envoy on climate action. He served in that role as part of a larger presidential committee chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Ngelale, 38, was at different times a broadcast journalist with African Independent Television and Channels Television.
He also worked as public affairs consultant at the Federal Ministry of Power and later as senior special assistant on public affairs in the office of then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
His Resignation Letter
On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson for the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.
I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.
I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
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FG blocks Nigerian nurses from practising abroad, shuts certificate verification portal
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FG blocks Nigerian nurses from practising abroad, shuts certificate verification portal
Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom, the United States and other places outside the country are currently in limbo following the decision of the Federal Government to close the certificate verification portal.
This has frustrated their efforts at completing the verification required by the host countries to admit them as registered nurses to practise.
Those already practising abroad are also unable to renew their operating licence since the deactivation of the verification portal by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in February this year.
Many of the affected nurses are said to have been forced to return to the country.
In a report published on Saturday, PUNCH quoted some of those affecting voicing their frustration over the development.
One of them who spoke on condition of anonymity said the UK Trust, bound by its policies, reportedly terminated his employment due to his inability to meet the certification criteria.
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He said, “The situation is not only saddening but also suicidal. My career is stagnated because the portal is closed. I’m in Nigeria now. I have gone to the nursing council on several occasions to tell them that even if they should write a letter of good standing and send it to them, they would be happy to acknowledge it. But my efforts were futile.”
Another nurse based in Saudi Arabia, Hannah, said she travelled to the country in 2023 to practise as a nurse, but her future had become uncertain.
Reacting, President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Michael Nnachi, said the group had engaged the government on the reopening of the portal.
He noted that a committee was recently formed to review the issue among others.
He said, “I would advise our affected members to remain patient.
“We are deeply concerned about the difficulties they are facing, and we are not comfortable with the situation. However, patience is necessary at this time.
“Finally, in many cases, even when agreements are reached with the government, they often fail to fulfil their promises. I remain hopeful and expect a positive response from the government. There is hope.”
FG blocks Nigerian nurses from practising abroad, shuts certificate verification portal
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Petrol price hike, hard economic growth decision – Tinubu
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Petrol price hike, hard economic growth decision – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
Daily Trust reports that the newest hike, implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPCL) Retail Management, range from N855 to N897 per litre, depending on the location, from the previous N568-N617.
Independent marketers have adjusted their prices to between N930 and N1,200 per litre of petrol.
Since the removal of subsidy by Tinubu in May 2023, prices of petrol tripled, compounding the woes of Nigerians who power their vehicles and generating sets with petrol.
But speaking Friday at a meeting with Nigerians in Beijing, China, after rounding off his official engagements in the country, Tinubu said the increase in petrol price is a “bold and unprecedented decision” necessary for Nigeria’s growth.
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A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, quoted him to have said the petrol price hike and other reforms by his administration are part of an overall strategy to set Nigeria on the path of economic growth.
President Tinubu said: “Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices.
“But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?
“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?
“So many of you are so talented, speaking very fluent Mandarin. It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people.
“The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development.’’
Petrol price hike, hard economic growth decision – Tinubu
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