Femi Falana, Senior Legal Practitioner in the Nigerian Bar Association, who represented two Gambian journalists Chief Ebrima Manneh and Musa Saidykhan at the sub-regional court (ECOWAS Court), has given assurance of his commitment and fervent desire to enforce judgment of the said court delivered few years ago against the government of former president Yahya Jammeh for alleged disappearance, torture and other human rights violations met on the duo.
The senior human rights lawyer made this statement at the closure of three day NGO Forum held at Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi, The Gambia.
He recalled human rights situation of Africa and beyond, with reference to various cases he filed and defended in various courts at both domestic and international level, especially the sub-regional court and that of the African Court, established under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He described human rights situation in Africa as deplorable, which needs to be address by African governments, civil society organisations and other interested groups, as the Continent cannot afford to have such gross violations continue to be committed with impunity, whereas victims continue to live in miserable poverty often occasioned by such rights violations.
The lawyer spoke about what he called “Important role of civil society organisations” as per gathered for the NGO Forum, meant to discuss and brainstorm on issues affecting human rights in Africa and beyond.
He cited Gambia under the former president Yahya Jammeh, whose tenure was alleged to have been characterized by mass violation of human rights, citing two of the said journalists cases he filed and defended at the cited sub-regional court, where judgment was delivered in his favour with awards in various sums, but are yet to be honored by the Gambian government.
“I must see and engage the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, before I leave back to Nigeria on the awards made against the Gambia Government by the said court. I must make sure the said awards are honored and given to my clients and their families, as the court decision must be seen to be honored like any other domestic court”, Femi Falana told the NGO Forum delegates with renewed sense of hope for the future of Africa’s human rights record, especially countries like the Gambia, South Sudan, Somalia, Mali among others with such bad records.
Author: Sanna Jawara