Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has expressed concern over the continued detention of more than 20,0000 terrorism suspects who were yet to be arraigned in court, saying the development violates the Constitution and human rights.
Adeyanju claimed that more than 20,000 suspects remained in detention facilities across the country, with some having spent over 15 years in custody without trial.
In a statement issued on Friday, the activist, however, commended the ongoing prosecution of many other suspects, saying it reflected the government’s commitment to due process and compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
“While the new move to charge terrorism suspects before various courts of competent jurisdiction is commendable, it must, however, be noted that more than 20,000 other suspects languish in various detention camps across the country. Some of these suspects have been in custody for more than fifteen years in many cases, and this violates the Constitution and human rights laws,” he said.
The lawyer also called on the Federal Government to shut down the detention facility at Wawa Barracks in Niger State, alleging that conditions at the centre was far below acceptable standards.
Adeyanju described the Wawa facility as one of the worst detention centres on the African continent, alleging that detainees regularly die due to starvation, poor feeding and inadequate access to healthcare.
He, however, commended the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) for prosecuting terrorism suspects before competent courts across the country, describing the move as a positive step towards upholding constitutional provisions and the rule of law.
According to him, bringing terrorism suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction marks a significant improvement in the handling of terrorism-related cases.
Adeyanju said, “I commend the Federal Government and the Department of State Services for charging terrorism suspects before various courts in the country. This reflects compliance with the dictates of the Constitution.”
