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Buhari appoints ex-minister as NHRC chairman

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Salamatu Suleiman as chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The appointee, Mrs Suleiman was a minister of women affairs and also minister of state for foreign affairs in the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The appointment which awaits the confirmation of the Senate was read out in a letter from the country’s president by the chamber’s President, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of plenary on Tuesday. Mr Lawan said the appointment is pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rigthts Commission Act as amended.

The president also appointed 14 other members of the board of the NHRC which include Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Umar Salisu, Dafe Adesida, Joseph Mmamel, and Ahmad Fingilla, Kemi Asiwaju-Okeyonda, Abubakar Muhammed, Femi Okeowo and Sunny Daniel.

Others are Agabaidu Jideani,Nella Andem-Rabana, Azubuike Nwakwenta, Jamila Isah, CDD director, Hassan Idayat and former chairman Anthony Ojukwu as secretary.

NHRC rescues mentally-ill woman caged by family in Katsina

January 29, 2021 No Comments

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has rescued a mentally-ill woman, Laritu Safiyanu, who was kept in a cage for several months by family members in Katsina State.

The NHRC Coordinator in the state, Barr. Adamu Umaru Kasimu, who disclosed this to journalists in Katsina on Friday, said a Good Samaritan informed the commission that the victim was chained and caged by her family members for alleged mental illness in Gyaza village, Kankai local government area of the state.

Kasimu said the NHRC on hearing the report swung into action and rescued the woman.

The coordinator stressed that it took the intervention of the commission and other stakeholders to rescue the victim from the inhuman and degrading treatment she subjected to by her family members.

He said: “Investigation revealed that the woman who was kept in a filthy environment unsuitable for human habitation, had for a long time been denied rights to dignity of a person, a situation that may have contributed to her state of mental instability.

“The commission had to wade in and immediately secure the release of Laritu from the deplorable condition she was subjected to.

“The NHRC will continue to monitor the condition of the victim to ensure that she gets the right kind of treatment she deserves.

“We wish to educate the family of the victim on human rights norms stipulating that every person deserves to live in dignity and be free from all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended provides for the right to life and dignity.

“Therefore, any action that infringes on this fundamental right or any other human right is highly unacceptable and must be discouraged in all ramifications.”