LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON TORTURE PREVENTION IN NIGERIA: THE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

The issue of torture and ill treatment of citizens in Nigeria worsens every day and remains widespread particularly in places of detention despite legislations even enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as part of our Fundamental Human Rights against such. Torture has been seen to be a routine occurrence in Nigeria, largely used to extract confessions or as punishment for alleged crimes. Hundreds of suspects in police and military custody across the country are being subjected to a range of physical and psychological torture/ ill-treatment. This paper is aimed at awakening the Nigerian government to look into the rampant violation of the right against torture and an advocacy to not just ensure that perpetrators are brought to book but to make provisions for rehabilitation. It looked into the legal framework for torture in Nigeria, both national and international instruments.  It particularly examined the Nigeria Anti- Torture Act and highlighted its lacuna. One of such lacunae is the Rehabilitation Rights for victims of torture as conditions in most detention places constitute at the very least cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Human rights violations of victims of torture in Nigeria are on the extreme. It was strongly recommended that the Anti Torture Act provide for rehabilitation rights of victims and support institutional and sustainable structures for its implementation, provide an effective framework for monitoring and evaluation of the enforcement of its legislations on this issue. This is expedient to curb this menace eating deep into the fiber of our justice system and create a society where human rights and the rule of law are not mere articles of faith.