HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING BROKEN UP BY STATE SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001846

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING BROKEN UP BY STATE SECURITY

REF: A. ABUJA 01547


B. ABUJA 01660

Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (U) SUMMARY: On July 12, a coalition of human rights
groups organized a meeting to discuss the removal of Bukhari
Bello as chair of the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC). Bello had been "redeployed" by Attorney General Bayo
Ojo on June 19. Human rights groups vigorously denounced
Bello's removal and were expected to issue a report critical
of the government at the July 12 meeting. State Security
Service (SSS) officers sealed off the venue and prevented the
event from taking place. Police say the event was closed
because no permit had been issued for the meeting. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) The report, titled "The People vs. The Attorney
General: In the Matter of the Independence of Nigeria's
National Human Rights Commission," argues that Ojo did not
have the power to interfere with the work of the NHRC or fire
its head, since the NHRC is an independent agency. According
to Jibrin Ibrahim, director of the Center for Democracy and
Development (CDD),a mock trial of the Attorney General was
also planned to protest the sacking. Though Ojo has never
publicly explained Bello's redeployment, it has been widely
reported in the media that Bello was dismissed because of the
government's general unhappiness with the criticisms of the
Human Rights Commission.


3. (C) However, embassy contacts within the Information
Ministry say that Bello was fired because the NHCR had made a
statement criticizing the government over the arrest of two
journalists (reftels). The court proceedings against the two
journalists are ongoing. While they are free on bail, they
face charges of sedition and a possible jail term of 2 years.
Their next hearing is July 25.


4. (C) COMMENT. The disruption of the July 12 human rights
meeting seems to be linked to the arrested journalists and
suggests an increasing intolerance for dissent. Two
journalists criticized the president and were arrested by SSS
on sedition charges. The NHRC criticized their arrest, and
its director was subsequently relieved of his duties. Civil
society responded by issuing a report criticical of
government interference in NHRC independence, and SSS has
tried to prevent the report from being released. The
question is why is SSS moving so aggressively in this case.
We believe that the crackdown is being ordered by SSS
director Kayode Are, who is from Obasanjo's village and a
close political ally of the president. Post will continue to
monitor the situation with a particular eye towards the 2007
elections. END COMMENT.
FUREY