Lawyers talk of upholding human rights in the fight against cultism

The Human Rights Committee (HRC) of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Benin Branch,  has expressed deep concern “over the recent mass arrest and arraignment of young men and women in connection with the fight against cultism in Edo State.”

While commending the efforts to tackle this menace, Itohan Ekama and Emmanuel Okorie, the Vice Chairman and the Secretary of the Committee respectively, said that they “strongly believe that such efforts must be grounded in the rule of law, respect for human rights, and due process.”

They stated that “many of these individuals are being brought to court without thorough investigations or credible evidence linking them to the commission of the alleged offences.

“This approach not only undermines the integrity of our judicial system and processes but also violates the fundamental rights of the accused. The practice of remanding suspects without proof of evidence is a relic of the past and has no place in our modern legal system.”

They emphasized that “the rule of law is the bedrock of any democratic society. Law enforcement agencies must conduct thorough investigations before bringing charges against individuals. Our courts should be places where justice is dispensed based on credible evidence, not instruments for perpetuating human rights violations and abuses.”

Going further they urged “the relevant authorities to ensure that all actions taken in the fight against cultism are in strict adherence to the law” while calling on the courts “to demand proof of evidence in compliance with the objective of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Edo State 2018 before remanding suspects and to uphold the principles of justice and fairness.”

In their final conclusion they affirmed that human life and dignity matter “as we strive to create a safer society, we must not compromise on the values of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights. We stand ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure that our efforts to combat cultism do not infringe on the rights of innocent individuals.”