The Nigerian Bar Association Human Rights Institute has condemned the degrading assault of Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, a serving corps member in Anambra State, by operatives of the disbanded Agunaechemba Task Force, describing the swift dismissal of those involved as mere “damage control” rather than justice.
In a strongly worded statement, the Institute Chair who doubles as the 1st Vice President, Sebastian Anyia stressed that while the dismissal of the perpetrators acknowledges wrongdoing, it falls far short of true accountability. He insisted that what happened to Miss Elohor was a gross violation of her dignity, personhood, and constitutional rights, which cannot be remedied by internal memos alone. “A dismissal without prosecution signals that such crimes can be swept aside quietly. That, we will work against. Justice must be full and enforceable,” the statement read.
Anyia accused the government of often resorting to superficial measures whenever public outrage grows, noting that sacking offenders without ensuring criminal prosecution encourages a cycle of impunity.
Specifically, he demanded a formal public apology and compensation of at least ₦50 million for Miss Elohor, stressing that the state must begin to bear the financial and legal consequences of lawlessness.
Recalling a similar incident involving Ms Comfort Emmanson, the association warned that unless decisive action is taken, the abuse of citizens under the guise of security enforcement will persist.
Read the full statement below
The swift dismissal of the Agunaechemba Task Force operatives involved in the degrading assault of Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor is barely justice, it is damage control at most.
It acknowledges the wrongdoing,no doubt but it falls far short of accountability. What happened to Miss Elohor is a violation of her person, her dignity, and her constitutional rights.
A dismissal without prosecution signals that such crimes can be swept aside with internal memos. That, we will work against.
The Government is often eager to offer apologies and sack individuals when public outrage is loud but rarely do they move beyond superficial measures.
This must not be one of those moments. As an association (The Nigerian Bar Association) we must go further, we demand a formal public apology and compensation of no less than ₦50 million for Miss Elohor.
Until the state begins to bear the financial and legal weight of lawlessness, this cycle of bullying and brutality will not stop.
When justice becomes expensive, maybe the government will begin to pay more attention.
Let it be known that we will not applaud partial measures, we will continue to demand the criminal prosecution of the perpetrators, and full enforcement of the victim’s rights.
As legal professionals and defenders of human rights, we are watching and we will be acting. The time for symbolic gestures is over.
Justice must be full and enforceable. Yesterday it was Ms Comfort Emmanson, today is Ms Jennifer Edema Elohor who knows who will be next?
