Amnesty International Warns FG Not to Harass, Intimidate Chidi Odinkalu

Wale Igbintade

Amnesty International has condemned the call by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the Body of Benchers should prevail on the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to sanction the former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, for attacking the judiciary and it called “degrading the legal profession.”

In a statement published on its Facebook page sighted by THISDAY, the rights organisation warned against the harassment and intimidation of Odinkalu by any agent of the federal government for doing his human rights work and the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.

 One of the functions of the Body of Benchers is the discipline of erring lawyers in Nigeria, which is carried out through the LPDC.

The international watchdog said it was concerned about the abuse of the Body of Benchers as a tool to stifle peaceful dissent in the country.

It also warned that no lawyer should ever be sanctioned or punished simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights and carrying out their professional duties.

 The group further warned that all lawyers in Nigeria should be allowed to freely exercise their human rights and carry out their legitimate professional activities without fear of reprisals.

It advised the government to stop misusing the justice system to shut down peaceful dissent, adding that it must at all times ensure the human rights of everyone and the independence of the legal profession in the country.

“The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“Chidi Odinkalu’s harassment undermines the independence of the legal profession and exemplifies the increasing repression of civic space and attacks against human rights defenders and activists in the country.

“Human rights defenders and activists continue to face intimidation and harassment and politically motivated prosecution. The blatant disregard by the authorities of their constitutional and international human rights obligations must stop.

“Nigerian authorities should immediately stop the intimidation and harassment against Chidi Odinkalu and allow him to freely exercise his human rights and carry out his professional duties without interference or fear of reprisal.

“Authorities should stop misusing the justice system to shut down peaceful dissent. Authorities must uphold and ensure the human rights of everyone and the independence of the legal profession in the country.”