Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Nigerian Bar Association Human Rights Institute (NBA-HRI) to urgently collate and enforce all court judgments obtained against security agencies in Nigeria.
Falana made the call on December 10 at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Secretariat, during the International Human Rights Day celebration organised by the NBA-HRI.
Speaking at the event, Falana lamented the persistent failure of security agencies to comply with court orders and judgments, describing the trend as a serious affront to the rule of law and constitutional governance. He noted that numerous judgments delivered by courts in favour of citizens against agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security institutions remain unenforced years after they were issued.
According to him, the NBA-HRI is strategically positioned to address the challenge by compiling a comprehensive record of such judgments and taking deliberate steps to ensure their enforcement through lawful means.
This, he said, included a 2021 case challenging the Chief of Army Staff’s directive requiring Nigerians to show identity cards at checkpoints.
“And also, a judgment declaring unlawful a regulation restricting female police officers from marrying without permission after three years of service.
“NBA should circulate these judgments widely so that Nigerians know their rights and security agencies comply with them. The NBA will need substantial support to carry out this work effectively,” he said.
