By Daniel Fayemi

A group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Federal Government to the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja over the killing of National Youth Service Corp members after the 2011 presidential election.

The group alleged that, “the failure of the Defendants (The Federal Republic of Nigeria & the Attorney General of the Federation) to exercise due diligence to prevent the post election violence that resulted in the unlawful killing of the NYSC members and others amount to violations of their right to life; to sanctity and integrity of human person; to equal protection of the law; and violations of the families’ right to family life, and to basic enjoyment of economic and social rights.”

In the Suit Number ECW/CCJAPP/09/11 and filed by Solicitor to SERAP, Femi Falana, the group argued that the commission instituted by President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the post-election violence may result in efforts in futility as were previous similar commissions.

SERAP said, “The post election violence commission established by the government may end up the same way previous commissions of inquiry set up to address the outbreaks of violence in the country have ended: without success, implementation or follow-up.

“Also, the payment of N5m to each of the families of the NYSC members killed is grossly inadequate and falls far short of the requirements of international human rights law. The compensation by the government is unfair as it does not fully reflect the cost of education and training of the victims; the potential future earnings of the victims, the irreplaceable loss to the families; the physical, emotional and mental suffering by the families; and the human value and economic cost to the country.”

SERAP also argued that the government’s failure to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly acts to book amounted to the denial of the victims’ rights to justice.

“The failure by the Defendants to promptly, transparently and effectively investigate the death of the NYSC members, and to bring suspected perpetrators to justice amounts to a denial of the victims’ access to a fair, effective and prompt system of justice. In effect, the government has shown itself unwilling or unable to promptly, transparently and effectively investigate and prosecute those responsible for the unlawful killing of the NYSC members.”

“The Defendants have failed to discharge its positive obligation to take preventive operational measures to protect individuals whose lives were at risk.

“Granting compensation is separate from the additional obligation on states to conduct prompt, transparent and effective investigations and punish perpetrators,” the group added.

The group’s demands from the ECOWAS Court of Justice includes an order directing the Defendants and/or their agents to pay adequate monetary compensation of $500 million (US Dollar) to the families of the NYSC members unlawfully killed during the post election violence, for the violation of their human rights among other demands.

Source: http://www.nigeriapoliticsonline.com/theContent.aspx?page_id=3&id=539

Faydan 01:


The group alleged that, “the failure of the Defendants (The Federal Republic of Nigeria & the Attorney General of the Federation) to exercise due diligence to prevent the post election violence that resulted in [size=13pt]the unlawful killing of the NYSC(about 10 of them) members and others(more than 500 people who were not NYSC members, children/babies included died as well)[/size] amount to violations of their right to life; to sanctity and integrity of human person; to equal protection of the law; and violations of the families’ right to family life, and to basic enjoyment of economic and social rights.”

Finally, a group with some common sense. These newspapers reporters need to learn from SERAP.
Over 500 other folks died during the same, yet we cry as if only 10 NYSC members did.

as for the NYSC 10 they were "forced" by the federal govt to serve in those states hence leading to thier death. If given a choice no southerner may want to serve in the north.

The Federal government sent children to go fishing in River Nkisi knowing fully well that they may get drowned and yet fail to tie rope around their waste in case of incasity! Another word for it is MURDER!

GEJ government murdered the corp members and more than 500 citizens of Nigeria!

Any parent that accepts that N5m is accepting ego-ochu - Abominated money!! For heavens sakes what is N5m compared to the life of a child Is GEJ this heartless Will he accept N5m for the life of any of his Child?? Chukwu aju![God forbid!]

BLAME THIS UNFORTUNATE AND SAD INCIDENT ON ANYBODY YOU WISH, THE FACT STILL REMAINS THAT GEJ GOVERNMENT WASTED THOSE LIVES!

this is getting intresting

Correct people tacking action

the panel in Jos still dey collect salary, they cant even be bothered to set up a task force, elders meeting etc for the Boko Haram in fact they dont even acknowledge the Boko Haram killings any more, they just give the usual 'it's unfortunate' statements and we know the people behind it but we wont arrest them because we don't want to heat up the polity

vincent_09:

as for the NYSC 10 they were "forced" by the federal govt to serve in those states hence leading to thier death. If given a choice no southerner may want to serve in the north.

That is inane! NO ONE WAS FORCED. . . . even NYSC members can choose to quit if they wanted. Thousands do that each year. Suddenly cooking up this fantasy only makes Nigeria look dumber and dumber each time these tragedies take place. The January 2010 were reported by the sensationalists as the massacre of southerners even though it is reported that not even 5% of the 500 or more that were butchered/burned alive were from the south. We quickly brushed that under the carpet. Again we are ignoring the main so we can focus once more on the non issue. But thank God a group like SERAP is able to see the problem for what it is, and is doing something about this. I do hope international orgs. get in to help them with this.

Kobojunkie:

That is inane! NO ONE WAS FORCED. . . . even NYSC members can choose to quit if they wanted. Thousands do that each year. Suddenly cooking up this fantasy only makes Nigeria look dumber and dumber each time these tragedies take place. The January 2010 were reported by the sensationalists as the massacre of southerners even though it is reported that not even 5% of the 500 or more that were butchered/burned alive were from the south. We quickly brushed that under the carpet. Again we are ignoring the main so we can focus once more on the non issue. But thank God a group like SERAP is able to see the problem for what it is, and is doing something about this. I do hope international orgs. get in to help them with this.

Yes, people are forced to serve in areas they have no choice of refusing. Unless you're ill, above the age limit, pregnant/married, you're obligated/forced, coarced, subdued into serving in any state the goverment choses for you. It's a fact, and I don't expect any circular argument about this. The "forcing" comes from the fact that a young graduate virtually has no future if he or she cannot produce a certificate of completion of the NYSC, because noone, no company, no goverment will hire him.
Did you even serve in NYSC? If you did, you'll remember that there was no time you're asked to chose a preferable state to serve. If you didn't serve, then you have no business discussing this topic, go talk about something else.

Kobojunkie:

That is inane! NO ONE WAS FORCED. . . . even NYSC members can choose to quit if they want. Thousands do that each year. Suddenly cooking up this fantasy only makes Nigeria look dumber and dumber each time these tragedies take place. The January 2010 were reported by the sensationalists as the massacre of southerners even though it is reported that not even 5% of the 500 or more that were butchered/burned alive were from the south. We quickly brushed that under the carpet. Again we are ignoring the main so we can focus once more on the non issue. But thank God a group like SERAP is able to see the problem for what it is, and is doing something about this. I do hope international orgs. get in to help them with this.

Even SERAP has not, and will not attempt such an inane argument as to claim the 10 who died, among the 500 or more others, some of whom where civilians posted to the North by the same Government, were FORCED to move out to the North, let alone claim they could NOT FLEE for their lives as a result, when/if they got a chance to.

@OP,

In more serious countries, FG would be dealing with lots of court cases. They should have made it a billion.


@Kobojunkie

Kobo kobo, whaz up?  How was your day?