A coalition of 24 Nigerian and international civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to grant Nigerians direct access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The groups including Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria, and Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria called on the government to make and deposit the optional declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol Establishing the African Court.
Other members include the Paradigm Initiative, Spaces for Change, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Global Rights, HEDA Resource Centre, CLEEN Foundation, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), and Dataphyte Foundation.
In a joint statement addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the coalition said the declaration would allow Nigerians and eligible non-governmental organisations to directly approach the Court after exhausting domestic legal remedies. The statement followed a letter sent to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Although Nigeria ratified the Protocol establishing the African Court in 2004, it has yet to make the optional declaration, effectively blocking victims of human rights violations from seeking regional justice.
“Nigeria’s continued refusal to make the Article 34(6) declaration undermines access to justice and effective remedies, while weakening accountability particularly for victims whose cases are stalled, ignored, or inadequately addressed domestically,” the groups said.
Nigeria, a longstanding African Union member, ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 1983 and currently has a presence on the African Court through Justice Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam, who was re-elected in July 2024. Justice Anukam has consistently highlighted the importance of Nigeria making the Article 34(6) declaration.
The coalition also noted that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights recommended in its 62nd Ordinary Session in May 2018 that Nigeria expedite the declaration to enable direct access for Nigerians and NGOs.
According to the groups, making the declaration would bolster protections under the African Charter, including freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, digital rights, access to natural resources, and people-centred safety and security.
