Nigeria

Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel): findings and what happened next

Human rights violations in Nigeria between January 1966 and May 1999, mostly under military rule.

Country

Nigeria

Type

truth commission

Established

14 June 1999

Chaired by

Justice Chukwudifu Oputa

Report published

June 2002

What the inquiry found

1. The commission received about 10,000 testimonies and heard about 150 cases in public hearings, according to the United States Institute of Peace.¹
2. The commission found the military responsible for gross human rights violations and found that powerful civilians collaborated with the military elite in preparing coups.¹
3. According to The New Humanitarian, the commission found three former military heads of state liable over specific killings, recommended investigation or accountability, and said they should be barred from high office after they refused its subpoenas.²

Key recommendations

• Recommendations included compensation for victims, a sharp reduction of the armed forces, reform of military intelligence and the police, and wide dissemination of the report.¹

What happened next

• June 2002The commission submitted its report to President Olusegun Obasanjo.¹
• 31 January 2003In Fawehinmi v Babangida, the Supreme Court of Nigeria held that the Tribunals of Inquiry Act applied as a federal law only to the Federal Capital Territory and that the National Assembly had no power to enact a general law on tribunals of inquiry.^3,4
• January 2005The government never officially released the report. Civil society groups published it unofficially.^1,2

Sources

1. United States Institute of Peace, Truth Commission: Nigeria
2. The New Humanitarian (IRIN), Rights panel wanted three ex-military rulers probed for killings
3. NigeriaLII, Fawehinmi and 2 Others v Babangida (Rtd) and 2 Others (SC 360/2001) [2003] NGSC 13 (31 January 2003)
4. HBriefs, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Ors v General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) and Ors (2003)