When ELVIS-WURA TOWOLAWI walked into my office and discussed starting a human rights education project in churches in Makurdi, Benue state, I was amused. Yes, we will have a wide audience and reach, but such must be situated within the Bible to have the impact we normally desire. So I challenged him to posit human rights within the Bible before I will approve the project. He produced a beautiful and compelling argument which I have compressed below. Am glad I approved the pro

Impunity is a global problem. It’s utterly pervasive. It can be found anywhere in the world and it can take many forms. Whether it’s a case of a classroom bully or a corrupt dictator, when impunity reigns – when people in a society feel free to act without fear of consequences – some use that freedom to hurt others. This year IFEX Global Network  is running its third annual International Day to End Impunity campaign from the 1st to 23rd of November 2013. IFEX  Global network

In mid-2012, Nigeria was besieged with floods that resulted in many people losing their lives, livelihoods and homes. Benue State, one of the worst hit during the floods, received N500 million (approx US$3.2 million) in federal aid money. Yet, no money has been paid out to the state’s residents thus far, propelling human rights lawyer Rommy Mom to take the authority in charge of disbursing funds, Benue State Emergency Agency, to court using the Freedom of Information Law. Mom

The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) today launched the start of its 2013 anti-impunity campaign ahead of the third annual “International Day to End Impunity” (IDEI) during which it will profile the case of Nigerian human rights lawyer, Mr. Rommy Mom, who had to flee his home State of Benue following threats to his life. Mr. Mom, who is President of the Makurdi-based non-governmental organization, Lawyers Alert, is being threatened because he is asking ques

As early as 8:30 am on the 24th day of October 2013,  pupils of NKST Primary school Wadata,  Makurdi trooped to school as usual only to find the gates locked on account of labour strike embarked upon by their Teachers on the orders of the Teachers Union, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). The NUT has been in a running battle with the Benue State Government over non-payment of salaries spanning over three months, non implementation of Teachers Salary Scale amongst others iss

FOI Law Reports In the High Court of Justice of Benue State of Nigeria In the Benue State Judicial Division Holden at Makurdi July 15, 2013 Before his Lordship, Honourable Justice A. O. Onum, Judge Suit No. MHC/137/2013 Between: Rommy Mom                                                                                                                                                                                              – PLAINTIFF And 1. The Executive Secretary Benue Sta

In this piece Elvis – Wura Towolawi an Intern at lawyers Alert examines GIS-SURE a program the Nigeria Government rolled out in the wake of fuel price increase as a palliative to the occupy Nigeria demonstrations that broke out after the increase Nothing dehumanizes and in-dignifies a man worse than an inability to earn a living. This is even more burdensome when he is purportedly ‘educated’, armed with degree(s); lives by the river, and yet washes his back with spittle. Such

Below is the copy of judgment as delivered by Justice Ada Onum of the Benue State High Court who referred to and styled the flood funds a rumour. With respect to the Hon Judge, Lawyers Alert is of the opinion that his reasoning was faulty owing principally to the fact the BSEMA did not deny the existence of the flood funds but simply stated that it was not given it . Secondly the issue of the floods and assistance thereof in Benue and Nigeria had assumed such notoriety that t

EDUCATING/SENSITING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF OFFENDERS HUMAN RIGHTS: FOCUS ON BENUE, PLATEAU AND NASARAWA STATES OF NIGERIA. This is a summary of  a three day training workshop on the Application of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules (UNSMR) and Human Rights Standard for the Criminal Justice Sector in Benue, Plateau and NasarawaStates of Nigeria held at the Benue Hotels Makurdi. Participants were drawn from the Prisons, Police, Judiciary, the office of the Attorn

LAWYERS ALERT AND EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN NIGERIA In its simplest form, Extra-Judicial killing connote executions outside the parameters of judicial procedure. Any killing outside of judicial pronouncement of the killing is deemed to be summary execution. The act of extra-judicial killing is about the highest human rights violations, as the victim(s) is/are denied the right to fair hearing, defense and life. In it report to mark the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations H

Lawyers Alert is a Civil Society Organisation that is non-partisan and non-profit made up substantially of Lawyers and other professionals committed to the entrenchment of democracy, rule of law and socio-economic development of residents of Nigeria. It was founded in 2000, and became operational in 2002. It is registered according to the laws of Nigeria and BenueState. We are headquartered in Makurdi, Benue State with offices in Abuja. Our vision is the entrenchment of viril