Yenagoa Based Lawyer, Ebi Robert Petitions NGOs Over Alleged Church Violation of Juveniles Rights

A Yenagoa based Human Right Activist, Ebi Robert has petitioned some NGOs Over the alleged violation of the right of some juveniles by an Abia State based church. The letter which was dated the 21st day of July, 2018 and addressed to Prof. Tonka Omorogbe, member, board of Trustees, Child Rights Awareness Organization, revealed that some persons who are percieved to be members of the church had caught one Amarachi Okereke stealing some items in he church, and in a bid to shame her, made a video coverage of the woman and her little children and uploaded same for the world to see. Mr. Ebi Robert believes that the Act by the church which ought to live by example by example drastically violated the rights of the children, hence call for investigation into the matter. The Petition had copied Mr. Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine’s led Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network, the National Human Rights Commission and the Child’s Rights and Rehabilitation Network. Below Reads the Petition: No 25 Osiri Road, Ekeki, Yanagoa, Bayelsa State.                                                             Phone No: 09032845248                                                          Email: ebi.fortune@yahoo.com                                                                                   21^st July, 2018                                                         Ref Number: AB/17B/01/18   Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, Member, Board of Trustees, Child Rights Awareness Organization 12 Adegbola Street, Off Awolowo Way, Anifowose Ikeja, Lagos. Dear Sir/Ma, PETITION AGAINST THE UNLAWFUL UPLOAD OF A VIDEO CAPTURING THREE CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE, TAGGING THEM AS THIEVES PUBLICLY, THEREBY VIOLATING THEIR RIGHT TO DIGNITY OF HUMAN PERSON AND ABUSING THEIR INNOCENCE AS JUVENILES I am a Yenagoa based Human Rights Activist; a trained Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I am writing this petition with respect to a video that went viral on social media which I believe in all honesty, calls for concern, as it violates the rights of some juveniles. On the 21^st day of July, 2018, at around 7:44 am, I came across a video believed to be uploaded by an online blog with the name “Btlsblog Page”. The video shows that a lady by the name Amarachi Okereke from Obingo, in Abia State was caught stealing some items in a church known as ‘The Liberation Arena and Power-Gospel Church’ situated @ NO:  159 Okigwe Rd 2^nd Floor front, Abia State. The woman was alleged to have been caught with three of her children who are without doubt juveniles/children, being tender at age and of course, innocent in look. Those who supposedly covered the act, which I believe are members of the said church captured the faces of the youngsters and made the video available to the whole world to see. This is unacceptable as the said act violates the right to dignity of the said innocent children which is protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, The Child Right’s Act of Nigeria and other International Conventions and instruments. Children and young persons are considered innocent, and our criminal justice system is careful enough to limit the level of criminal liability of such young ones, and in furtherance of the selfsame policy, young ones who are presumed liable are not even tried in an open court in line with the relevant laws. Secondly, the mother of the children though caught in the act is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. It is therefore in the light of the above that I am writing you this complaint, asking you to use your good office to investigate the matter and bring to the knees of justice, the said church, members of the church, and/or persons on whose behest this infringement was violated on these little ones to serve as deterrence to those who may wish to take such steps in the future. I am fully aware of your campaign for the protection and promotion of the right of the Nigerian child. I honestly believe that you will do justice to the case. Enclosed to this petition is the said video and evidence of the post as it reflects on the blog on whose Facebook page the video was shared. Thanks in anticipation of your kind response. Yours Faithfully Ebi Robert ENCLS: 

1. Copy of the said Video
2. Screen shots of the Post on ‘Btlsblog’ Facebook Page

1. National Human Rights Commission
2. Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network
3. Child’s Right and Rehabilitation Network