NETWORK ON POLICE REFORM IN NIGERIA (NOPRIN)
44, Alhaja Kofoworola Crescent,
Obafemi Awolowo Way,
Ikeja, Lagos.
Website: http://www.noprin.org
Email: noprin@noprin.org;
okeynwanguma2002@yahoo.com
Mobile: 08064974531
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July 8, 2010
Dear friends and colleagues,
NETWORK ON POLICE REFORM IN NIGERIA (NOPRIN), IN COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC) AND NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON TORTURE ORGANISES A PUBLIC TRIBUNAL ON POLICE ABUSE IN NIGERIA IN OWERRI, IMO STATE FOR THE SOUTHEAST GEOPOLITCAL ZONE ON 19TH AND 20TH AUGUST, 2010.
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) is a network of 46 civil society organizations spread across Nigeria, and committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights. It was established in 2000 to provide opportunity for civil society involvement in police reform, and the promotion of safety, security and justice in Nigeria. NOPRIN carries out its mandate through monitoring, field research and investigation, documentation, publication, campaign and advocacy. NOPRIN partners with national, international, governmental and intergovernmental organizations and institutions in implementing its programs aimed at transforming law enforcement institutions and practices in Nigeria.
NOPRIN, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Committee on Torture (NCoT) will hold a two-day Public Tribunal on Police Abuse in Nigeria in Owerri, Imo State for the Southeast geopolitical region. The Public tribunal will focus on cases of unlawful detention, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment; extrajudicial killings; rape and sexual violence.
The public tribunal is aimed at giving voice to the numerous survivors, relatives of victims and witnesses of police abuse in Nigeria and to assist them to secure remedies through the use of mechanisms of internal discipline and control and external accountability. The tribunal will provide a platform and opportunity for victims of human rights abuses by the police to testify before a panel of eminent Nigerians on their experiences. It is also aimed at mobilizing eminent Nigerians to join the campaign to end police abuse of human rights in Nigeria.
The Public Tribunal will be presided over by a Panel of Judges drawn from African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, the Judiciary, National Human Rights Commission, National Committee on Torture, Human Rights Experts, and Religious bodies.
Testimonies will be heard from survivors of police abuse as well as from relations of victims on their behalf. Each testimony will be followed by cross examination and comments by members of the audience. The Chairperson of the panel will pronounce the findings and recommendations of the Panel of Judges after comments from members of the Panel.
A communiqué and summary of report of the tribunal will be publicly issued. The full report and recommendations of the panel will be forwarded to appropriate governmental authorities for necessary action with a view to ensuring sanctions for the identified perpetrators and redress and remedies for the victims.
The first in the series of the tribunals held in Abuja on June 10 and 11, 2010 for the North Central region. In October 2010 the tribunal will move to Ekiti for the Southwest region.
NOPRIN hereby request civil society organizations, the media and all concerned Nigerians to pass on this message to anyone who may benefit from the activity, and to provide information to NOPRIN about victims or relatives of victims of police abuse who may need to be invited to testify.
NOTE:
We will forward formal invitations to testifiers after we have studied details of their cases. Please send information to the undersigned through the provided addresses, emails and phone numbers.
Yours sincerely,
Okechukwu Nwanguma
Program Coordinator
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN)
44, Alhaja Kofoworola Crescent
Obafemi Awolowo Way
(Balogun Bus Stop)
Ikeja
Email: okeynwanguma2002@yahoo.com, noprin@noprin.org
Telephone: 08064974531, 017618925
