The Kogi State government last Friday inaugurated a 10-man committee to help victims of rights abuse access to justice.
According to the government, the Human Rights Special Intervention Group (HRSIG) committee is to help respond to the legal needs of victims of rights abuse and enable them have access to justice.
The Director General, Office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission (PDCRC) in Kogi, Abdullahi Zakari, while inaugurating the committee, noted that it was against the persistent violations of the rights of Kogi residents and the inability of the vulnerable to access justice.
He said the inauguration is a timely response by the “pro youth and pro poor governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to ensuring that human rights of residents and citizens of the state is secured.”
He said the governor identifies with the youth and promised to set up a special committee to handle the brutality by law enforcement officers.
He enjoined members to respond to issues of domestic violence and abuses directly arising from Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, and all other issues pertaining to violation of the fundamental human rights.
He said, ‘’Kogi State is one of the very few states that has PDCRC to respond to need for access to justice,” adding, ‘’The law is to address among other things, the delay in the dispensation of cases, provide legal representation for those who can’t afford the services of lawyers while being interrogated by law enforcement officers.’’
On his part, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Commission, Muizideen Abdullahi charged members of the HRSIG to stand up to the challenges, and treat the assignment with all the attention it deserved.