Popular artiste, Folarin Falana AKA Falz has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to reconstitute the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, stating that it will be a step in the right direction in the quest for a genuine Police reform in Nigeria.

This is contained in a letter written to the President which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, titled “REQUEST FOR RECONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RUGHTS COMMISSION FOR THE DISCHARGE OF ITS FUNCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CASES OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NIGERIA.”

“It has been brought to my knowledge via a statement by your Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, that the Federal Government has accepted the 5-point request of the ENDSARS protests presented by well-meaning Nigerian youths.

“This statement went on to state that there would be an independent investigation Panel to look into the violations of Human Rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigeria Police.”

Meanwhile, he noted that Section 5 of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act 2010 has already empowered the Commission to receive complaints and investigate all cases of human rights violations and accordingly make recommendations to the President.

Therefore, he stated that the “Commission need not set up another panel for the exercise of its functions.”

However, he said by virtue of the provision of Section 2 of the National Human Rights Commission Act, the Governing Council is expected to consist of a retired Justice of Supreme Court or Court of Appeal or High Court as its Chairman, representatives from Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs & Internal Affairs and others.

“As it stands now, the National Human Rights Commission has remained without the Governing Council since 2015 and still remains without it. The unfortunate circumstances has led to the aggravation of human rights abuse”, he said.

Meanwhile, he noted that by the dint of Section 7(3) of the Act, the Executive Secretary lacks the power to act without the Council.

Therefore, he appealed to the President to swiftly reconstitute the Council, adding that, same should be done “publicly as well as transparently in order to restore the confidence of young Nigerians” in the proposed Police reform process.

“Failure to do this would force young Nigerians to believe that the continuous refusal to re-constitute the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission is a deliberate attempt to mislead us into thinking genuine efforts are being made at reforming the Nigeria Police, when in truth the opposite is the case.” He said.

Finally, he stated that he is confident that his appeal to the President will be acceded to, adding that it will guarantee “the protection of the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians”.