The United Kingdom Parliament has said it will deliberate on a
petition by some groups and individuals, requesting the parliament
to implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and
officials for alleged human rights violations during the #EndSARS
protest and Lekki shootings.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The parliament has, also, lamented violence that erupted as the
aftermath of the Lekki incidents, noting that it is awaiting the
outcome of investigations by the federal and state governments into
reports of police brutality.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
It made this disclosure in a response to a petition signed by
over 220,118 individuals in the United Kingdom, requesting the UK
Government to sanction Nigeria for alleged violations of human
rights.
The reply, which was signed by Foreign, Commonwealth &
Development Office, was obtained from the official website of the
parliament – https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554150.[1]
In its reply to the petition, the parliament said the UK Government
“is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria,
which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families
of all those affected.”
Specifically, the reply read in part: “Parliament will debate
this petition. Parliament will debate this petition on November 23
2020. You will be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube
channel.
“On July 6, the British Government established the Global Human
Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under
the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
“The Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new
Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first
tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to
future designations.
“This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to
hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations
or abuses. The sanctions regime is not intended to target
individual countries.
“It will allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and
entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses
around the world.
“We will continue to consider potential designations under the
Global Human Rights sanctions regime. It is longstanding practice
not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to do so could
reduce the impact of the designations. The UK Government will keep
all evidence and potential listings under close review,” the
parliament said in its reply.
Consequently, it noted that the government should explore using
the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that
violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose
sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force
involved in any human rights abuses.
The reply detailed different interventions that the UK
Government had initiated to direct the attention of the federal
government to cases of human rights violations during the EndSARS
protest
It said the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on October 21
calling for an end to the violence and for the Nigerian Government
to urgently investigate reports of brutality by its security forces
and hold those responsible to account.
It added that the Minister for Africa tweeted on October 16,
noting people’s democratic and peaceful calls for reforms, and
again on October 21, encouraging the Nigerian authorities to
restore peace and address concerns over brutality towards
civilians.
It observed that the minister “reiterated these messages when he
spoke to Foreign Minister Onyeama on October 23. The British High
Commissioner in Abuja has also raised the protests with
representatives of the Nigerian Government and will continue to do
so.
“We welcome President Buhari’s decision to disband the Federal
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and the establishment of
judicial panels of inquiry to investigate alleged incidents of
brutality by the security services.
“They must investigate all incidents, including in Lagos, fully.
The Minister for Africa tweeted on October 29 stressing the
importance of the police and military cooperation with the panels.
He raised this, and the need for the panels to urgently start
investigations, when he spoke to the Governor of Lagos state on
November 11.
“The UK Government will continue to work with the Nigerian
Government and international and civil society partners to support
justice, accountability and a more responsive policing model in
Nigeria.
“We will continue to push for the Nigerian security services to
uphold human rights and the rule of law, investigate all incidents
of brutality, illegal detentions and use of excessive force, and
hold those responsible to account,” it said
The United Kingdom Parliament has said it will deliberate on a
petition by some groups and individuals, requesting the parliament
to implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and
officials for alleged human rights violations during the #EndSARS
protest and Lekki shootings.
The parliament has, also, lamented violence that erupted as the
aftermath of the Lekki incidents, noting that it is awaiting the
outcome of investigations by the federal and state governments into
reports of police brutality.
It made this disclosure in a response to a petition signed by
over 220,118 individuals in the United Kingdom, requesting the UK
Government to sanction Nigeria for alleged violations of human
rights.
The reply, which was signed by Foreign, Commonwealth &
Development Office, was obtained from the official website of the
parliament – https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554150.[1]
In its reply to the petition, the parliament said the UK Government
“is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria,
which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families
of all those affected.”
Specifically, the reply read in part: “Parliament will debate
this petition. Parliament will debate this petition on November 23
2020. You will be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube
channel.
“On July 6, the British Government established the Global Human
Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under
the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
“The Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new
Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first
tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to
future designations.
“This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to
hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations
or abuses. The sanctions regime is not intended to target
individual countries.
“It will allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and
entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses
around the world.
“We will continue to consider potential designations under the
Global Human Rights sanctions regime. It is longstanding practice
not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to do so could
reduce the impact of the designations. The UK Government will keep
all evidence and potential listings under close review,” the
parliament said in its reply.
Consequently, it noted that the government should explore using
the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that
violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose
sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force
involved in any human rights abuses.
The reply detailed different interventions that the UK
Government had initiated to direct the attention of the federal
government to cases of human rights violations during the EndSARS
protest
It said the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on October 21
calling for an end to the violence and for the Nigerian Government
to urgently investigate reports of brutality by its security forces
and hold those responsible to account.
It added that the Minister for Africa tweeted on October 16,
noting people’s democratic and peaceful calls for reforms, and
again on October 21, encouraging the Nigerian authorities to
restore peace and address concerns over brutality towards
civilians.
It observed that the minister “reiterated these messages when he
spoke to Foreign Minister Onyeama on October 23. The British High
Commissioner in Abuja has also raised the protests with
representatives of the Nigerian Government and will continue to do
so.
“We welcome President Buhari’s decision to disband the Federal
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and the establishment of
judicial panels of inquiry to investigate alleged incidents of
brutality by the security services.
“They must investigate all incidents, including in Lagos, fully.
The Minister for Africa tweeted on October 29 stressing the
importance of the police and military cooperation with the panels.
He raised this, and the need for the panels to urgently start
investigations, when he spoke to the Governor of Lagos state on
November 11.
“The UK Government will continue to work with the Nigerian
Government and international and civil society partners to support
justice, accountability and a more responsive policing model in
Nigeria.
“We will continue to push for the Nigerian security services to
uphold human rights and the rule of law, investigate all incidents
of brutality, illegal detentions and use of excessive force, and
hold those responsible to account,” it said