Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana on Wednesday called on the Presidential Investigative Panel to recommend a review of the Armed Forces Act, AFA, during the ruling on the application of Military Justice System in Nigeria.
The judicial panel was set up by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while he was the Acting President, to review the compliance of the Nigerian armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement, especially in local conflict and insurgency situations.
The seven-member commission headed by Biobele Georgewill began its public hearings on Monday at the Ceremonial Hall of the Federal Capital Territory Court, Abuja.
Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, maintained his position that the Armed Forces Act is not in line with the human rights act, and was enacted under a military dictatorship in 1993 under President Ibrahim Babangida military rule.
“The rules of procedures in military courts in Nigeria was borrowed from the United Kingdom in 1972. In my submission, those rules of procedures in the UK have been changed, have been modernised in line with the human right act of the United Kingdom in 1986.
“The Armed Forces Act does not reflect a democratic dispensation. To worsen the situation with respect to procedure section 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice act 2015, section 2 sub section 2 has excluded the application of this law,” he said.”
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Nigerian military operating under archaic laws – Falana
The judicial panel was set up by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while he was the Acting President, to review the compliance of the Nigerian armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement, especially in local conflict and insurgency situations.
The seven-member commission headed by Biobele Georgewill began its public hearings on Monday at the Ceremonial Hall of the Federal Capital Territory Court, Abuja.
Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, maintained his position that the Armed Forces Act is not in line with the human rights act, and was enacted under a military dictatorship in 1993 under President Ibrahim Babangida military rule.
“The rules of procedures in military courts in Nigeria was borrowed from the United Kingdom in 1972. In my submission, those rules of procedures in the UK have been changed, have been modernised in line with the human right act of the United Kingdom in 1986.
“The Armed Forces Act does not reflect a democratic dispensation. To worsen the situation with respect to procedure section 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice act 2015, section 2 sub section 2 has excluded the application of this law,” he said.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
Nigerian military operating under archaic laws – Falana
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