Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
The report of the Technical Working Group set up by the National Human Rights Commission to carry out an independent review of evidence of gross violations of the right to participate in government has been presented to the public.
The review, which is also known as End Electoral Impunity Project, seeks to bring to account persons indicted by the election tribunals and appellate judicial bodies for infracting electoral and related laws during Nigeria’s recent election cycles.
The 284-page report indicted various politicians, some political parties, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as law enforcement agents.
It quoted from the judgments of election tribunals and appellate courts the specific portions indicting those listed above.
In preparing the report, the Technical Working Group constituted by the NHRA and chaired by Professor Nsongura Udombama relied on 2,731 certified judgements from the registry of the Court of Appeal covering 2007 and 2011 judgments.
”From the review of these cases, over 700 judgments disclose various violations,” the report said.
Although there were many violations, the group said it retained only 118 that it considered serious enough to sustain criminal prosecution or administrative sanction.
Speaking at the public presentation of the report, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe said the commission would forward the names of individuals and institutions indicted by the tribunals and the courts to the Federal Government for prosecution.
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