In recognition of the dignity and rights of citizens and residents of Lagos State, the State House of Assembly seeks to establish a Committee which will be known as the Lagos State Human Rights Committee.
This creation is established in a Bill titled, “A Law to amend the Office of the Public Defender Law, 2015.”
At a Stakeholders’ meeting held Wednesday over the bill at the Assembly Complex, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Hon. (Barr.) Victor Olusegun Akande, disclosed that upon the transfer of any executive bill to the Legislative House, it is incumbent upon the House, before the passage of such bill, to observe a public hearing and in this case, a stakeholders’ meeting to take into cognisance the observations of the public.
Appreciating the executive arm for sending the bill to the House as part of the resolutions formed at the EndSARS State Judicial Panels of Inquiry, a senior lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), noted that the Office of the Public Defender has been saddled with a monumental task of protecting the rights of residents and visitors to Lagos State from both government officials, private individuals and organizations.
Therefore, he sought that the intended Human Rights Committee should be an independent body as it would be an agency that will register complaints and petitions of over 21 million people and address international fora and organisations such as ECOWAS and the United Nations over human rights issues in Lagos, Nigeria and Africa.
Falana also argued that in favour of its independence, the funding of the agency should also be independent as most human rights bodies do not depend on stipends from the government.
On the composition of the Committee, Falana opined that one senior officer from the Nigerian Armed Forces consisting of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force should be selected to bridge the gap between the Force and any human rights cases that would be heard by the Committee upon its establishment.
He further suggested that after the stakeholders’ meeting, various human rights bodies in Lagos State be contacted to receive their memoranda.
He further noted that the Office would be doing the work of a Commission instead of a Committee.
On her part, the Director, Office of the Public Defender, Mrs. Adenrera Olayinka, said it would be an added responsibility for the Office which would require separate funding as the Public Defender’s Office is already overwhelmed from human rights cases.
Mrs. Sowemimo from the Ministry of Justice said the State intends to implement the recommendations of the panel of inquiry into the EndSARS.
She added that the amendment being sought was an attempt to put that in motion as well as monitor and observe its efficiency in the system.
Mrs. Semi Ogunfowode, Chief State Counsel from the Citizens Mediation Centre, commended the process in relation to the bill adding that it was proof that the government was concerned and particular about the people of Lagos State.
Responding, Hon. Akande commended the stakeholders for their contributions, stating that the creation of the Lagos State Human Rights Committee further enhances the adoption of equal and inalienable rights of all members of the public.
He promised that the Lagos State House of Assembly would put a searchlight into the bill and expand it where such was needed.
He added that the House would come up with a robust Law that would attend to the problems of citizens and look for a better way to defend them.
