A coalition of 16 civil society organisations (CSOs) has formally petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over alleged human rights violations, including the reported death of Abdulqadri Olatunji Jimoh in police custody. The petition, addressed to the NHRC Executive Secretary, calls for an urgent and impartial investigation into claims of police brutality, obstruction of justice, and systemic rights abuses within the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the petition, Jimoh, a 35-year-old man, allegedly died due to police brutality inflicted by officers of the Kwara State Police Command. His family has accused the police of manipulating the autopsy report and blocking access to justice, further raising suspicions of a cover-up. The CSOs are demanding transparency regarding the cause of his death and accountability for those responsible.
The petition also draws attention to the case of Nnamdi Emeh, a whistleblower who exposed organ trafficking and other human rights abuses within the Anambra State Police Command. Despite being granted bail months ago, Emeh remains in detention, with CSOs alleging police corruption and attempts to silence dissent.
The coalition is calling on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into Jimoh’s alleged torture and subsequent death. They emphasise the need for transparency by urging the NHRC to verify and publish an authentic autopsy report. Furthermore, the coalition insists that any officers found responsible for Jimoh’s death or for obstructing justice be held accountable.
In addition, they recommend implementing “appropriate reforms within the police force to prevent the recurrence of such human rights violations in the future, particularly focusing on accountability and rehabilitation of the victims’ families.”
The petitioners stress that only an impartial inquiry will restore public trust in the justice system and ensure better protection of citizens’ rights. The NHRC has yet to respond to the petition, but the case is expected to generate widespread scrutiny as demands for police accountability grow.
Among the signatories to the petition are the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Legal Resources Consortium, the Grassroots Development Monitoring and Advocacy Centre (GDMAC), and the Open Society on Justice Reform Project. Others are: Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre, Centre for Citizens Rights, Centre for Family Rescue, Law and Development, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development FENRAD, Peggy Chukwuemeka, Parent-Child Intervention Centre (PCIC) Enugu State, Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria, Legal Resources Consortium Lagos.
Other signatories include the Justice for Peace and Development Initiative, Building Bridges for Justice and Development Foundation, Vision Spring Initiative, Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD), and the Solidarity for the Paradigm Shift Initiative.
Police brutality has been rife in Nigeria, with widespread protests against it taking place in October 2020, following an unprecedented social media campaign that rallied on the hashtag #endsars.
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