From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Human rights group, Natural Justice, has called for the establishment of a credible database that would chronicle reports of human rights abuses in the country to enable offenders seek proper justice in the court of law.
It also called for intensive lobbying of all government agencies for the establishment of specialised courts saddled with the responsibilities of trying environmental offences to enhance quick dispensation of justice in the country.
The group in a communique issued at the end of a two-day review and workshop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State said: “That a database detailing any violation or persecutions of human and environmental rights defenders in Nigeria be set up coordinated by the movement and connected to the National Human Rights Commission. That this movement should reach out to other social and climate justice movements across Nigeria to build a stronger and inclusive movement for just transition.”
The group also demanded that efforts must be made to prevent the destruction of lives and livelihoods of Nigerians as climate crisis continue to grow.
The proposal by Natural Justice for the setting up of a strong, inclusive climate justice movement in Nigeria was adopted by general acclaim of participants.
The group noted that there was a profusion of constitution and legal policy frameworks on human rights and protection for environmental right defenders in Nigeria.
It noted that courts in Nigeria have created a clear pathway for enhanced protection of human and environmental rights and rights defenders.
It said it was the responsibility of lawyers, communities and civil society organisations (CSOs) to build on and expand the rights through legal empowerment and active public interest litigation.
“The long delays and lack of faith in our justice delivery system has forced communities and individuals to resort to foreign jurisdictions to seek justice.”
The communique, which was signed by Mike Karikpo, Programme Coordinator of Natural Justice in Nigeria had the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Rivers State, Prof. Adangor Zacchaeus, (SAN), among others.