By Michael Agbaji
The House of Representatives on Wednesday called the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun to investigate the gruesome killing of two men in Onitsha by a mob on November 1, 2023.
In the resolution of the House followed a motion of Urgent National Importance moved by the lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra, Hon. Paschal Agbodike called the attention of the House to the rampant killing of Nigerians by mob action noting that between 2019 and 2022 more than 279 mob actions were recorded in Nigeria which led to the death of 391 people.
Hon. Agbodike, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while leading the debate on the motion decried the effect of jungle justice noting that it stands against the law and all known international human rights conventions.
He invited the House to note “that Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) provides that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria,”
Speaking further, the lawmaker stated that jungle justice “is a violation of Section 34(1 Ya) of the 1999 Constitution which states that “no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”, and Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all of which are against torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.
Agbodike says, the reports by expert indicate that “most jungle justice victims are innocent of the crimes for which they are subjected to violence or even death as such acts are mostly based on mere suspicion or rumour …and that Nigeria is unfortunately reputed to have highest rate of jungle justice in Africa.” The lawmaker, therefore called on the House to wade into the matter to save the lives of innocent people may yet fall victim of jungle justice.
After the motion, House unanimously passed the motion and in strong terms condemned the brutal killing of the ‘Onitsha two’ and jungle justice in the country.
The House therefore, urged “the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the gruesome killing of two men at Onitsha in Anambra State… as well as other barbaric acts of jungle justice across the country, and ensure that the perpetrators are made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Speaker, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas while ruling on the motion referred the matter to the House Committee on Police Affairs mandating it to ensure full implementation of the House’ resolution.
