Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights

NHRC TO HOST JUNE 12 MEMORIAL LECTURE, UNVEIL PROF. HUMPHREY NWOSU DEMOCRACY CENTRE

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced plans to hold the Annual June 12 Memorial Lecture in honour of the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu as part of efforts to strengthen democratic governance, electoral integrity, and human rights in Nigeria.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, said the lecture, organized in collaboration with the Prof. Humphrey N. Nwosu Center for Democracy and Human Rights, will hold on June 9, 2026, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The lecture, themed “Electoral Integrity and the Future of Credible Elections in Nigeria,” is expected to bring together election managers, political actors, civil society organizations, security agencies, academics, development partners, the media, and citizens to discuss the future of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Dr. Ojukwu described the event as timely, stressing that electoral integrity remains fundamental to democratic governance and the protection of citizens’ rights. He noted that democracy thrives where electoral processes are transparent, inclusive, and credible.

The NHRC Boss paid tribute to the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), for overseeing the historic June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.

The learned Silk also disclosed that the event would feature the formal unveiling of the Prof. Humphrey N. Nwosu Center for Democracy and Human Rights. The Centre is expected to serve as a platform for democratic research, civic education, leadership development, and human rights advocacy.

Dr. Ojukwu said the memorial lecture would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the lessons of June 12 and explore ways of strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

He further announced that the Election Integrity and Democracy Award would be presented to Professor Nnenna Oti, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in recognition of her courage, transparency, and professionalism in the discharge of her electoral responsibilities.

According to him, the award is aimed at celebrating integrity in public service and encouraging citizens and public officials to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and fairness.

The Executive Secretary expressed confidence that the lecture would contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen electoral integrity, promote peaceful political participation, and enhance public trust in democratic institutions.

Responding to questions from journalists, he noted that aspects of the Open Ballot System and Option A4 electoral model introduced by the late Professor Nwosu could be reviewed and adapted where necessary to further strengthen transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in Nigeria's electoral process.

The press briefing was attended by Chief Fab Uche of the Prof. Humphrey N. Nwosu Center for Democracy and Human Rights, as well as Dr. Emeka Nwosu, Consultant to the ECOWAS Parliament and a member of the Planning Committee for the June 12 Memorial Lecture.

A Delta State High Court has ordered five dismissed police officers, including former Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman, to be remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre over the extrajudicial killing of suspect Oghenemine Ogidi in Effurun on April 26.

The officers were arraigned on Monday, June 1, before Justice Marshal Onome Umukoro at High Court 5 in Asaba, in a case filed under Suit No. THC/ASB/CR/M/66C/2026. The court adjourned proceedings until June 15 for formal arraignment, following a request for legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Journalists were barred from the courtroom during the hearing.

The defendants are ASP Usman Nuhu, 42; ASP Onoloko Dauroupamo, 47; ASP Okoh Kelechi, 46; Inspector Goodluck Kingsley, 42; and Inspector Omonigho Ahweyevu, 41.

Dismissed ASP Nuhu Usman, Four Others Remanded Over Extrajudicial Killing of Delta Suspect - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights A Delta State High Court has ordered five dismissed police officers, including former Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman, to be remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre over the extrajudicial killing of suspect Oghenemine Ogidi in Effurun on April 26. The officers were arraigned on...

An Anambra High Court, presided over by Justice Lauretta Oyeka, has sentenced a commercial tricycle rider, Makuachukwu Ezike, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering one Jude Onwuegbuchunam, an indigene of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that on 17th November 2019, along the Oba-Obosi-Nkpor-Umuoji Road, Ezike and his two gang members, who are still at large, while posing as a commercial tricycle rider and passengers, picked up an unsuspecting Onwuegbuchunam and, midway into his journey, attempted to rob him of his phone and other valuables.

When Onwuegbuchunam resisted and raised the alarm, Ezike and his gang members pushed him out of the tricycle, which was moving at high speed near Abidi Hall, Umuoji, where Umuoji Vigilante operatives were stationed.

The vigilante operatives, it was also gathered, gave the “one-chance” robbery syndicate a chase, leading to Ezike abandoning the tricycle and fleeing with the others, only to return the next day to the scene where he had abandoned the tricycle, and was subsequently arrested by the vigilante operatives, who later handed him over to the police, where he confessed to the crime. Onwuegbuchunam, who sustained fatal injuries, died two days later.

Man Sentenced To Death Over Murder Of Passenger in Anambra - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights An Anambra High Court, presided over by Justice Lauretta Oyeka, has sentenced a commercial tricycle rider, Makuachukwu Ezike, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering one Jude Onwuegbuchunam, an indigene of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered....

Words like “unusual”, “dangerous”, “betrayal” are being used by NGOs monitoring the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a highly critical response to an announcement that there will be no ICC investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in Nigeria. The ICC “is not intended to replace national courts”, agrees Alice Banens from Amnesty International, but it is “intended to step up” when national courts are not holding accountable those responsible. “In Nigeria, over 15 years have passed without justice,” she says.

In 2020, the office of the prosecutor declared that there was sufficient evidence to open an investigation into the situation in Nigeria, following a ten-year preliminary examination. What was expected was that the prosecutor would have asked the judges for permission to open an investigation propriu motu – which enables him to act where the court has jurisdiction.

This declaration was one of former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s last acts before handing over to Karim Khan in 2020. Both Nigeria and Ukraine were then in the same position – on the verge of a full investigation – expecting the new prosecutor to deliver.

In Nigeria’s case, this would be based on the prosecutor’s analysis that, despite a number of trials of Boko Haram members and other Islamic groups’ members as a result of the insurgency in the country’s north east, those tried were “low level perpetrators” and there was not sufficient commitment by the authorities into investigating and prosecuting alleged crimes by their own forces: “where proceedings are asserted to have been conducted, the information available did not demonstrate any tangible, concrete, and progressive steps by the authorities to address allegations against members of the NSF [Nigerian Security Forces],” says Chuka Arinze-Onyia, who has worked as a criminal defence lawyer in Nigeria, and is now teaching at Griffith University in Australia.

WHY IS THE ICC BURYING THE NIGERIA CASE - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights By Janet H. Anderson  Words like “unusual”, “dangerous”, “betrayal” are being used by NGOs monitoring the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a highly critical response to an announcement that there will be no ICC investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in Nigeria. The ICC “...

A self-styled vigilante boss accused of murder, torture, and operating a private detention facility in Imo State was arrested last Thursday on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, only to be released the same day, allegedly following the intervention of a local government chairman.

Chibuike Duru, widely known by his alias “Nwangbenta,” was apprehended by officers acting on a directive from Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso, who had invited victims of the gang leader’s alleged atrocities to meet with him directly the day before.

“The commissioner met with all his victims, including the family of the woman whose son he allegedly killed and set on fire,” a source close to the investigation told NOHR. “He was so angered by the atrocities that he ordered Nwangbenta’s detention immediately.” The source added that authorities were “surprised” when Duru was released that same day, reportedly after the chairman of Njaba Local Government Area intervened.

Human rights lawyer Justus Ijeoma called the release deeply troubling. “The fact that the release was not authorised by the CP who initially ordered the detention, and the speed at which it happened, shows that Nwangbenta has been receiving protection from highly placed politicians in Imo State,” Barrister Ijeoma told NOHR. Read more:

Vigilante Boss Nwagbenta Arrested, Freed Within Hours After Victims Meet With Imo Commissioner Of Police - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights A self-styled vigilante boss accused of murder, torture, and operating a private detention facility in Imo State was arrested last Thursday on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, only to be released the same day, allegedly following the intervention of a local government chairman. Chibui...

A self-styled vigilante boss accused of murder, torture, and operating a private detention facility in Imo State was arrested last Thursday on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, only to be released the same day, allegedly following the intervention of a local government chairman.

Chibuike Duru, widely known by his alias "Nwangbenta," was apprehended by officers acting on a directive from Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso, who had invited victims of the gang leader's alleged atrocities to meet with him directly the day before.

"The commissioner met with all his victims, including the family of the woman whose son he allegedly killed and set on fire," a source close to the investigation told NOHR. "He was so angered by the atrocities that he ordered Nwangbenta's detention immediately." The source added that authorities were "surprised" when Duru was released that same day, reportedly after the chairman of Njaba Local Government Area intervened.

Human rights lawyer Justus Ijeoma called the release deeply troubling. "The fact that the release was not authorised by the CP who initially ordered the detention, and the speed at which it happened, shows that Nwangbenta has been receiving protection from highly placed politicians in Imo State," Barrister Ijeoma told NOHR.
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403 Forbidden

SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL SETTING ASIDE THE SENTENCE AND CONVICTION OF MAJ.GEN HAKEEM OLADAPO OTIKI IN NIGERIAN ARMY V. MAJ GEN H.O OTIKI BY THE GENERAL COURT MARTIAL.

The facts leading to the Appeal is that Major General H.O. Otiki, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Sokoto, was accused and Court Martialed over the movement of ₦100 million on 11 July 2019, meant for the purchase of furniture for renovated military quarters but stolen by the soldiers directed to move the money and who have deserted the army.

On the 16th of June 2020, a General Court Martial convicted him on all counts and sentenced him to dismissal from the Nigerian Army with disgrace and dishonour, reduction in rank from Major General to Brigadier General, and severe reprimand. The findings and sentence were subsequently confirmed by the Army Council on 24 November 2020.

Not satisfied with the decision of the General Court Martial (GCM), Major General Otiki appealed to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in CA/ABJ/CR/54/2022. In a judgment of Court of Appeal delivered on 5th of December, 2024, it allowed the appeal, nullified the entire proceedings and judgment of the General Court Martial, discharged and acquitted Major General Otiki, restored him to the rank of Major General, and ordered payment of all his salaries, allowances, entitlements, and refund of forfeited monies.

Disatisfied with the Judgement of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian Army challenged it at the Supreme Court in SC/CR/96/2025. The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision of five man Panel delivered on Friday,15th May, 2026, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal and dismissed the appeal in favour of General Hakeem Oladapo Otiki.

The Imo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has disbanded the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping unit, along with the Scorpion Unit and Lion Squad, replacing them with a new outfit called the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso unveiled the new unit Wednesday in Owerri, saying the restructuring was aimed at strengthening operational capacity and improving responses to violent crimes , in line with directives from Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu.

The VCRU is mandated to tackle armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, cultism, unlawful possession of fi****ms, and other serious offences through intelligence-led policing and rapid-response operations, Bosso said. He described the unit's personnel as "carefully selected based on competence, discipline, integrity, and operational experience," adding that they had undergone specialised training in tactical operations, human rights compliance, and professional conduct.

Bosso also inaugurated a civilian oversight board for the VCRU, tasked with receiving public feedback, providing oversight functions, and boosting public confidence through transparency and accountability.

Read more:

Nigerian Police Disband Tiger Base, Launch New Unit Amid Abuse Allegations - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights Critics warn reform mirrors SARS disbandment — same officers, different name The Imo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has disbanded the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping unit, along with the Scorpion Unit and Lion Squad, replacing them with a new outfit called the Violent Crime Response Unit (V...