Global human rights organisation, the Amnesty International, has condemned what it describes as the harassment and intimidation of prominent human rights lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu, by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike
The global human rights body called on the Nigerian government to immediately cease actions against Odinkalu and uphold the independence of the legal profession.
According to reports, Wike recently urged the country’s Body of Benchers to “invite and discipline” Odinkalu for his human rights advocacy and exercise of free speech.
The Body of Benchers, responsible for overseeing legal practitioners in Nigeria, includes the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which is tasked with disciplining erring lawyers.
Amnesty International expressed concerns that the Body of Benchers is being used as a tool to suppress peaceful dissent in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the organisation noted that no lawyer should face sanctions or punishment for defending human rights or fulfilling their professional obligations.
Amnesty International stated that 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.”
The alleged harassment of Odinkalu, a former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), raises serious concerns about the erosion of civic space and increasing attacks on human rights defenders in the country.
Amnesty International warned that such actions undermine the independence of the legal profession and signal a broader pattern of repression against activists and dissenting voices.
The statement read, “Amnesty International is concerned about the abuse of the Body of Benchers as a tool to stifle peaceful dissent in the country. No lawyer should ever be sanctioned or punished simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights and carrying out their professional duties.
“Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to immediately cease the harassment and intimidation of Mr Odinkalu and publicly guarantee that all lawyers in Nigeria can freely exercise their human rights and carry out their legitimate professional activities without fear of reprisals.”
The organisation said, “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,” Amnesty International stated.
It said, “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.”
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