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NHRC, stakeholders brainstorm over Nigeria’s human rights interventions, challenges in the past four years and way forward
Stakeholders on human rights issues Wednesday converged on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city to brainstorm on interventions and gains recorded by the country on rights of the people as well as challenges facing the full realization of expected goals.
At the gathering, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the participants were challenged to take critical look at the alternative report with a view to making inputs as well as to address areas that may not have been captured.
According to Chief Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the Executive Secretary of NHRC, the gathering was a validation meeting which seeks to produce an alternative report to the one the Commission had already prepared in order to have a comprehensive document that would be submitted to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (UNRRC) in connection with the 4th Circle Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Chief Ojukwu, who holds the national honour of Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, therefore urged participants to feel free to look at issues around the areas earmarked for discussion and make their inputs in order to have a robust document on interventions and gains on human rights issues as well as challenges and the way forward,
He said that the review covers both the past four years and the next four years.
He said- “As you are aware, the UPR mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council is a process that reviews the human rights records of all UN member states. The state-driven process under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council provides opportunity for Nigeria to declare actions she has taken to fulfill her human rights obligations to improve the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
“Nigeria’s active participation in the 4th review circle will provide the federal government the opportunity to re-asses its constitutional obligations to, on a regular basis, guaranty the welfare and security of the citizenry. This will task government and relevant stakeholders to address root causes of inequalities, conflicts and other structural gaps in the country.”
Ojukwu who was represented at the preliminary stage of the meeting by the Director, Civil and Political Rights, NHRC, A. A Yakubu, told the gathering that the report will provide Nigeria with an agenda for Nigeria to identify its human rights priorities and accelerate the implementation if the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and national development plans.
He said- “The trajectory towards the 4th Circle has achieved significant milestone considering Nigeria’s active participation since the inception of the UPR process in 2008. At inception, Nigeria expressed assurances as encapsulated in her statement of commitment to submit herself to the UPR mechanism and corporate fully with the Human Rights Council, non-members as well as regional organisations and civil societies, make the Human Rights Council a credible, strong, fair and effective UN Human Rights body.”
According to the Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria, the validation meeting, seeks to take a critical look at the alternative report, to ensure its accuracy and relevance towards addressing realities in the country, adding that- “We should scrutinize its content, identify any gaps or areas of concern, and collectively ensure that it represents all the steps that Nigeria has taken to fulfill her international human rights obligations as well as challenges faced by the country.”
While responding to questions by Nationwide Reports, the Director, Civil and Political Rights, NHRC, A. A Yakubu, acknowledged that the Commission ought to have shared the report with stakeholders days before the meeting to enable them study it properly before the day in order to make well informed inputs. He however said that the stakeholders were present at all the meetings preparatory to writing the report and were well abreast with the issues being discussed.
Among agencies and non-governmental organizations represented at the meeting include the Federal Ministries of justice, Interior and Women Affairs. Also represented are Legal Aid Council, NEMA, NAPTIP, Albino Foundation and many others.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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