AGF and CSOs Dispute Human Rights Defenders Bill

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, faced opposition from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) regarding the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill during a public hearing held by the House of Representatives' Human Rights Committee on Wednesday. Fagbemi argued that Nigeria already has sufficient legislation for human rights protection and that enacting new laws could lead to institutional overlap and confusion among government agencies.

He urged the National Assembly to empower existing institutions to enhance their implementation capacity. In contrast, Jude Ohanel, the Program Director of Development Dynamics NGO, supported the bill, stating that it would strengthen Nigeria's democratic institutions and reinforce constitutional order.

He called on members of the House of Representatives to expedite the bill's consideration for the nation's interest, emphasizing that the bill represents a landmark legislative initiative reflecting Nigeria's commitment to democracy and human rights.