Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has praised the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, for establishing the Citizens Liberties Committee.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
The committee has been tasked with ensuring that the rights of suspects and convicts are respected in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution, the Police Establishment Act, and the Nigerian Correctional Services Act.
In a statement released Today, Falana recounted his repeated calls to previous NBA leaders to invoke the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), enacted in May 2015, to end illegal arrests and detentions in Nigeria. However, he noted that these calls were largely ignored, leading to the continued violation of citizens’ rights.
Falana highlighted the case of Mr. Pius Iwoke, a lawyer who was recently released from the illegal custody of the State Security Service after being detained for three years without trial. He argued that such harrowing experiences could have been avoided if detention facilities were regularly inspected by judges, as mandated by the ACJA and the Police Establishment Act.
The human rights activist commended Osigwe for taking proactive steps to address these issues through the Citizens Liberties Committee, which will collaborate with NBA branches to liaise with Chief Judges of the States and the FCT to ensure monthly inspections of police stations and detention facilities. The committee will also direct the Human Rights Committee of each NBA branch to accompany magistrates and judges during these inspections and encourage citizen participation in the monitoring process.
Falana expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to succeed, given that its members are largely drawn from the nation’s human rights community. However, he called on the committee to work closely with the Human Rights Committees of the 128 NBA branches and other human rights organizations in the country to enforce the comprehensive rights of suspects and end illegal arrests and detentions.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
