15 November 1999
Communication No. 153/96
AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session
1-15 November 1999
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS PROJECT
v.
NIGERIA
DECISION
BEFORE:
CHAIRMAN: Prof. E.V.O. Dankwa
VICE CHAIRPERSON: Mrs. Julienne Ondziel-Gnelenga
COMMISSIONERS: Professor Isaac Nguema, Dr. Ibrahim Ali Badawi El-Sheikh, Dr.
Hatem Ben Salem, Mr. Kamel Rezag-Bara, Dr. Nyameko Barney Pityana, Mr. Andrew
Ranganayi Chigovera, Mrs. Florence Butegwa, Mrs. Vera Mlangazuwa Chirwa, Mrs.
Jainaba Johm
Citation:
Constitutional Rights Project v. Nig., Comm. 153/96, 13th ACHPR AAR Annex V
(1999-2000)
Publications IHRDA, Compilation of Decisions on Communications of the African Commission On :
Human and Peoples’ Rights Extracted from the Commission’s Activity Reports 19942001, at
270 (2002); Documents of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights, at 163 (Malcolm D. Evans & Rachel Murray eds., 2001); (2000) AHRLR 248
(ACHPR 1999)
RAPPORTEUR
20th Session: Commissioner Dankwa
21st Session: Commissioner Dankwa
22nd Session: Commissioner Dankwa
23rd Session : Commissioner Dankwa
24th Session : Commissioner Dankwa
25th Session : Commissioner Dankwa
26th Session : Commissioner Dankwa
SUMMARY OF FACTS
1. Between May and June 1995 the Nigerian police in the city of Owerri arrested Vincent Obidiozor
Duru, Nnemeka Sydney Onyecheaghe, Patrick Okoroafor, Collins Ndulaka and Amanze Onuoha.
They were accused of serious offences ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping.
2. The police completed its case and submitted a report on 25 July 1995. In this report the police
linked the suspects to various robberies and kidnapping of young children which had occurred and
for which ransoms were demanded. One of the kidnapped children escaped but the whereabouts
of the others are still unknown, although the ransoms have been paid. The report concluded that
the suspects should be detained under Decree No. 2 of 1984 (which permits detainees to be held
for three months without charge) in order to permit further investigations and for the suspects to
be charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. At present the suspects are imprisoned and no
charges have been brought against them.
COMPLAINT
3. The communication alleges violations of Articles 6 and 7 of the Charter.
PROCEDURE
4. The communication is dated 5 February 1996 and was received at the Secretariat on 28 February
1996.
5. At the 20th session held in Grand Bay, Mauritius, in October 1996, the Commission declared the
communication admissible, and decided that it would be taken up with the relevant authorities by
the planned mission to Nigeria. The mission was undertaken between 7 and 14 March 1997 and
the report submitted to the Commission.
6. The parties were duly notified of all the procedures.
LAW
ADMISSIBILITY
7. Prima facie, the communication satisfies all of the requirements for admissibility contained in
Article 56. The only question that might be raised is with regard to the exhaustion of local
remedies required by Article 56(5). Article 56(5) requires that the complainants must have
exhausted all available local remedies, or else prove that such remedies are unduly prolonged.
8. The very violation alleged in this case is that the victims are detained without charge or trial, thus
constituting an arbitrary detention. The normal remedy in such instances is for the victims to bring
an application for a writ of habeas corpus, a collateral action in which the court may order the
police to produce an individual and justify his imprisonment.
9. However, the police report contained in the file recommends that the suspects be detained under
Decree No. 2 of 1984 (Document Ref. No. CR:3000/IMS/Y/Vol. 33/172, p. 10 para.). By the State
Security (Detention of Persons) Amended Decree No. 14 (1994), the government has prohibited any
court in Nigeria from issuing a writ of habeas corpus, or any prerogative order for the production of
any person detained under Decree No. 2 (1984).
10. Thus, even the remedy of habeas corpus does not exist in this situation. There are consequently no
remedies for the victims to resort to, and the communication was therefore declared admissible.
MERITS
11. Article 6 of the African Charter reads:
“...No one may be deprived of his freedom except for reasons and conditions previously laid down by
law. In particular, no one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained.”
12. The State Security (Detention of Persons) Act provides that the Chief of General Staff may order
that a person be detained if he is satisfied that any person is or recently has been concerned in acts
prejudicial to State security or has contributed to the economic adversity of the nation, or in the
preparation or instigation of such acts.
13. Persons may be detained indefinitely if the detention is reviewed every six weeks by a panel of
nine persons, six of whom are appointed by the President, the other three being the AttorneyGeneral, the Director of the Prison Service, and a representative appointed by the InspectorGeneral of Police. The panel does not have to agree that continued detention is necessary: the
detention will be renewed unless the Panel is satisfied that the circumstances no longer require the
continued detention of the person.
14. The detainees were arrested between May and June 1995, nearly two years ago. There is no
evidence that they have been tried or even charged.
15. Even if the required reviews of detention as provided for by the Act, are being held, the Panel
which conducts the review cannot be said to meet judicial standards as majority of its members
are appointed by the President (the Executive) and the other three are also representatives of the
executive branch. The Panel does not have to justify the continued detention of individuals, but
only issue orders in the case of release.
16. This Panel cannot thus be considered impartial. Consequently, even if recommendations from the
meetings of this Panel are responsible for the detainees' continued detention, this detention must
be considered arbitrary, and therefore in violation of Article 6.
17. Furthermore, Article 7(1) of the Charter provides that every individual shall have the right to an
appeal to competent national organs against acts violating his fundamental rights, and the right to
be tried within a reasonable time by an impartial court or tribunal.
18. The meetings of the Review Panel cannot be considered a competent national organ. Since it
appears that the right to file for habeas corpus is also closed to the accused individuals, they have
been denied their rights under Article 7(1)(a).
19. A subsidiary issue is the length of time that has elapsed since their arrest. In a criminal case,
especially one in which the accused is detained until trial, the trial must be held with all possible
speed to minimise the negative effects on the life of a person who, after all, may be innocent.
20. That nearly two years can pass without even charges being filed is an unreasonable delay. Thus,
the detainees' rights under Article 7(1)(d) have also been violated.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMMISSION, finds violations of Articles 6, 7(1)(a) and (d) of the
Charter; appeals to the Government of Nigeria to charge the detainees, or release them.
Done in Kigali, Rwanda on 15 November 1999.