Falana, Odinkalu, Ozekhome, DSS clash at human rights summit

Leading human rights activists are set for a face-off with the top brass of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and Nigerian Police at the 2019 “Human Rights Summit” in Lagos.

Among the leading lights of the human rights movement who have committed to attend the event are fiery human rights crusader, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who will chair the occasion and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who is the Keynote Speaker. The theme of the summit is “Youth standing up for human rights: the case for Nigeria.”

According to a statement by Messrs. Okey Ilofulunwa and Emeka Nwadioke, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch Human Rights Committee and Human Rights Summit 2019 Planning Committee respectively, the summit holds today at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The list of panelists includes Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN); former President of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mrs. Ayo Obe; Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC); Mr. Tony Ojukwu and Mr. Monday Ubani, former NBA 2nd vice president.

Other panelists are the United National Special Adviser on Human Rights, Mr. Martin Ejidike; Mr. Yusuf Bichi, Director General of Directorate for State Security (DSS) and Head, AIG Zone 2, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu.

Among the dignitaries expected at the summit are the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, Special Guest of Honour; Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Guest of Honour and former NBA President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

According to the organisers, the summit is open to the general public at no cost. In line with this year’s theme, many university and high school students have also been invited to attend the summit.

Noting the importance of this year’s theme, the United Nations said: “After a year marked by the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which culminated on November 20, 2019, our plan is to capitalise on the current momentum and spotlight the leadership role of youth in collective movements as a source of inspiration for a better future.

“Under our generic call to action ‘Stand Up for Human rights,’ we aim to celebrate the potential of youth as constructive agents of change, amplify their voices, and engage a broad range of global audiences in the promotion and protection of rights.

The campaign, led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is designed to encourage, galvanise, and showcase how youth all over the world stand up for rights and against racism, hate speech, bullying, discrimination, climate change among others,” they said.