• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home General PRAWA PRAWA Task Govt Repeal laws that ‘Criminalize Poverty’
  • General
  • PRAWA

PRAWA Task Govt Repeal laws that ‘Criminalize Poverty’

By
Prnigeria
-
December 9, 2020

PRAWA Task Govt Repeal laws that ‘Criminalize Poverty’

Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has tasked the federal government to urgently repeal lingering laws that criminalise poverty in the country.

This is just as the organisation applauded the opinion ruling of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights which declared that vagrancy laws are inconsistent and inconsonant with the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Children’s Rights Charter and Women Rights Protocol.

Dr. Uju Agomoh, Executive Director and Founder, PRAWA, in a statement on Wednesday, said the judgement is a major boost to the campaign to decriminalize and declassify petty offences in Africa.

Agomoh, however described the ruling of the African Court as the icing on the cake as it has provided the much needed platform to further push for the amendment of and removal from law books provisions that criminalize the poor and homeless especially when there is no proof of their criminal conduct.

“We therefore call on the government of Nigeria to take immediate action on this by repealing laws that are in breach of Articles 2,3,5 and 6 of the African Charter”, she said

“Sadly, Nigeria is one of the countries that still retain some aspects of colonial laws that criminalize poverty, in their lawbooks.

Read Also:

  • The Forgotten Victims: Reclaiming the True Story of Boko Haram’s War on Muslims By Dr. Zanna Hassan
  • NAF Releases List of Shortlisted Candidates for DSSC 34/2025 Aptitude Test
  • NSCDC, Police Strengthen Collaboration to Enhance Security in FCT

“These disproportionate laws are targeted at the uneducated and disadvantaged poor people (hawkers, street beggars, sex workers etc.) whose means of livelihoods are criminalized without any alternatives”, she added.

While acknowledging the steps already taken by Nigeria to abolish Petty Offences, Agomoh, however said more is expected from the legislature at all levels to ensure that there is follow up amendment of laws such as the criminal and Penal codes/ laws of the Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria to capture this abolition.

“We therefore appeal to the Nigerian government to take the lead in implementing this opinion judgement by repealing laws that are in breach of the African Charter.

“It is in the interest of the nation to decriminalize petty offences which has led to arbitrary incarceration of minor offenders and overpopulation of custodial centers”, Agomoh said.

She noted that, by declassifying and decriminalizing petty offences, government will be helping to make society safe by keeping petty offenders away from custody where they may be contaminated by criminals.

“There will be a reduction in the policing system that clamps down on this group of people if government repeals these obnoxious laws. It will also substantially reduce the allegation of human rights violations by the Police, which led to the #ENDSARS protest”, she said.

The executive director therfore, pledged the support and readiness of PRAWA to work with the Nigerian government in the provision of technical assistance where necessary towards the implementation of this opinion judgement.

By PRNigeria

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • ENDSARS Protest
  • Nigerian government
  • poverty
  • PRAWA
  • Uju Agomoh
Previous articleGITEX 2020: NITDA Creates Big Data Platform to Scale Up Investments in Digital Economy
Next articleInterior Ministry Records 38,051 Citizenship applications through PPP Projects- Belgore
Prnigeria
Prnigeria
http://www.PRNigeria.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

PRNigeria logo fearured image

How to Strengthen Correctional Reforms – Minister, Experts

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

Gov. Yusuf approves employment of 70 lawyers to boost legal sector

MNJTF, LAKE CHAD

MNJTF troops neutralise terrorists recover critical Assets in Borno-Nigeria

MNJT Troops

MNJTF troops repel terrorists’ attack, neutralize scores, recover weapons in Borno

NAF Airstrike fighter jets

NAF airstrikes neutralize terrorists in Lake Chad region 

NSCDC Female Squad

NSCDC records 113 gender-based violence cases, convicts 2 in Adamawa

Nigerian Navy

Nigerian Navy to Conduct Joint Amphibious Exercise with Army, Air Force

Gen CG Musa: Peacemaking and Civil-Military Relations  

Explosives Recovered in Maiduguri, Preventing Potential Disaster

Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister for Defence

At Kano Trade Fair, Badaru Seeks Support for Military to boost Security, Economic Growth

College Images of Defence Minister, Muhammed Badaru and other stakeholder in Southeast region

Defence Minister Meets South-East Stakeholders to Boost Security

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

Nigeria Customs Service Denies Rumors of Salary Increase

Recent Posts

  • The Forgotten Victims: Reclaiming the True Story of Boko Haram’s War on Muslims By Dr. Zanna Hassan
  • NAF Releases List of Shortlisted Candidates for DSSC 34/2025 Aptitude Test
  • NSCDC, Police Strengthen Collaboration to Enhance Security in FCT
  • Navy Appoints Commodore Odejobi as New Spokesman
  • FCT Police Raid Criminals Hideouts, Arrest 44 Suspects 
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
The Forgotten Victims: Reclaiming the True Story of Boko Haram’s War on Muslims By Dr. Zanna HassanNAF Releases List of Shortlisted Candidates for DSSC 34/2025 Aptitude TestNSCDC, Police Strengthen Collaboration to Enhance Security in FCTNavy Appoints Commodore Odejobi as New SpokesmanFCT Police Raid Criminals Hideouts, Arrest 44 Suspects Two Soldiers Killed as Troops Repel Terrorists’ Reprisal Attack After Eliminating Notorious Bandit LeaderNnamdi Kanu Opens Defence, Lists Wike, Buratai, Danjuma, Umahi, Others as WitnessesANALYSIS: 32 Years After, Coup Whispers Return to Nigerian BarracksASUU Suspends Two-Week Warning Strike JUST IN: ASUU Suspends 2-Week Warning Strike, Cites Progress in NegotiationsTroops Kill Notorious Bandit Abu A.K, Several Others in Zamfara OperationCDS Lauds Northern Monarchs’ Role in Intelligence, Conflict ResolutionStill on the Misleading Global Story About Nigeria's Insecurity, By Mukhtar Ya’u MadobiCelebrities, Brands Shine as Nigeria Digital PR Summit Clocks 10 Years of Ethical StorytellingCourt Dismisses Suspended NCAA Boss Suit Against ICPC
X whatsapp