The Federal Government reiterated its unwavering commitment to abolishing torture in places of detention where individuals are deprived of their freedom. Speaking at a sensitization and advocacy workshop in Abuja on the United Nations Convention against Torture, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, underscored the cruelty of torture, describing it as inhuman and degrading treatment.
Jedy-Agba emphasized the need to extend the scope of laws to prevent torture, including its expansion to cover psychiatric hospitals and other detention facilities. She highlighted ongoing efforts to revise the Anti-Torture Act and Regulations to redefine torture comprehensively and enhance mechanisms for deterring and eliminating its use in various places of detention across Nigeria.
Addressing law enforcement agents directly, Jedy-Agba stressed that torture is strictly prohibited and constitutes an unlawful offense. She emphasized that security personnel must not resort to torture to extract information from suspects. She clarified that torture, as defined under legal frameworks, encompasses any act by public officials, especially law enforcement, that inflicts mental or physical pain on individuals under their custody.
In addition to punitive measures against perpetrators, Jedy-Agba emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure restitution and rehabilitation for victims of torture. She urged workshop participants to champion the government’s anti-torture policy, refrain from using torture against citizens, and implement anti-torture measures within their respective institutions and organizations.
Highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to international human rights treaties, Jedy-Agba noted that the prohibition of torture is fundamental and transcends all international agreements. She emphasized the government’s prioritization of initiatives to prevent torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. Nigeria’s ratification of the United Nations Convention against Torture, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and enactment of the Anti-Torture Act underscore its dedication to prohibiting and punishing acts of torture by public officers.
