African Court, FG
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The Judge, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR),
Hon. Lady Justice Stella Anukam, has stated that very few Nigerian
citizens and many other States of the African Union are not aware
of the existence of the Court even when the countries have ratified
the Protocol establishing the Court.
She made the statement at the Mini African Court Sensitization
and Training for Media held in collaboration with the Federal
Ministry of Justice, Abuja on Thursday, 25th April 2019.
She said the Court intends to do more to promote its activities
among African Union (AU) member states to ensure improved awareness
among the citizens, about the workings of the court.
She noted that there is so much that Nigerian citizens can do
with the knowledge of the working of the Court, and believed that
the media is the major stakeholder to work with in order to achieve
the purpose.
Giving highlights on the mandate establishing the Court, Anukam
said the Court has recorded many achievements from which the people
and government of Nigeria can immensely benefit.
She disclosed that the people of Tanzania are taking full
advantage of the presence of the Court located in Arusha, while
encouraging the media to publicise the success story of the Court
so that Nigerian citizens could also benefit.
Speaking, the Spokesman for ACHPR, Sukhdev Chhatbar in an
interactive session with journalists reiterated that the mandate of
the Court was established to complement and reinforce the
protective mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights often referred to as Banjul Commission.
He noted that Nigeria ratified the protocol in 2004 but has
failed to take the final step of declaration.
Nigerians and civil rights groups in the country are currently
disallowed from accessing the ACHPR because, after ratifying the
protocol establishing the court, Nigeria was yet to take the final
step of making declaration, recognizing the court’s competence.
Under Article 34(6) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights, countries are required to, in addition to ratification;
make a declaration recognizing the competence of the court to
receive cases from non-government organizations (NGOs) and
individuals.
He said it was sad that, out of the Africa’s 55 countries, 30
have ratified the protocol, while only nine have made the
declaration. He urged Nigeria and Nigerians to take advantage of
the services of the court in the area of human rights promotion and
protection.
He pointed that the Media has a big role to play in publicising
the activities of the Court and promised to organize more training
in due course.
The Legal Officer, African Court, Oluwatosin Nguher said the
Primary duty of the State is to ensure that the rights of the
people are protected.
In a Press Statement issued by the Court’s Registrar, Robert Eno
said that a delegation of the court, led by its President, Justice
Sylvain Ore will arrive the country on a one-week working visit
from April 29, 2019.
“The delegation, which includes three judge and senior registry
staff, is expected to pay a courtesy call on the President of
Nigeria… and meet key officials in the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs and Justice.
“The visit is part of the court’s on-going efforts to strengthen
ties with Regional Court’s on the continent.”
Eno added that the visit to Nigeria is a follow up on a similar
visit to the Court’s base in Arusha, Tanzania by officials of the
Abuja-based ECOWAS Community Court in February 2018.
The Arusha, Tanzania based ACHPR, established by virtue of
Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human
and Peoples’ Rights, began operations in 2006, two years after the
protocol came into force in 2004.
Ogundoro Modupe
Deputy Director
Fed. Min of Justice