 We're back with the breakfast. The federal government, through the National Human Rights Commission, has inaugurated a special investigative panel to probe alleged cases of human rights violation and counter-insurgency in the North East. The special investigative panel, headed by a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Abdul Abouki, is saddled with the responsibility to investigate allegation of gross violation of national and international human rights laws. Alleged against the Nigerian armed forces in three reports by Reuters. Now in section five subsection, you have ABJN6 subsection IA of the NHRC Act of 2010. Now, apart from that, there's also a responsibility to receive memorandum from individuals and organization with interest in the subject matter of mandate of the SIIP, not is, especially human rights, security, humanitarian organization working in the not is. It's also saddled with the responsibility, this panel, to make appropriate determination as to the copability of individuals or institution as maybe deemed necessary in each circumstance. When you look at the various sections following the Act of the NHRC of 2010, it's also panel is saddled with our responsibility to make determination as to the damages or compensation payable in relation to any violation of human rights where it deems it necessary in the circumstances of the cases regarding making reference to the sections of the Act. Another responsibility is that it would refer any matter of human rights, a violation requiring prosecution to the attorney general of the Federation of the State as a case maybe in tandem with the Act of 2010 and HRC. We have Jeffrey Waleema who joins us this morning, he's a legal practitioner right here in Lagos. Jeffrey, it's good to have you join us, good morning. And how are you? Good morning. I'm fine. Good morning. It's good to have you join us. Jeffrey, quickly, can you share your thoughts with us as to this development by the federal government establishing this panel of inquiry for this purpose? Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. So it is not out of place that the federal government has come out to rescue people. So I think this is a long overdue process, something that should have been done ever since. But I mean, it's better, it's better later than never. So I appreciate the fact that the government has come to the rescue of the people and to attend to the people's right now, because many people who must have been like in the law, once there is a wrong, there is a right. So if there is a wrong, no matter who it is, even though it's the highest power in the community, in the society, in the federation, there should be a remedy for the person who has been wrong today, you know, affected. Yes. So I think this is a very good call and I think the fundamental human right is also a very important part of society. If the people's fundamental human right is neglected, I mean, it is going to be a pushback and not pro, and you see that even the pushback is the proletariat, everybody, nobody is going to enjoy the society eventually, and there will be a breakdown of law and order. So it's a very good call. But don't you think that this might just be a duplication of laws? And that's not necessarily a law, I mean, this panel, don't we have laws already that should guard against the violation of human right in our constitution? OK, so just like in Lagos, when I was shooting, there was a panel set up to address the situation. This is just the same situation here. So the military is a peculiar organization in the society because of the nature of their job and the reality surrounding the peculiarity of the military. It's always very important to handle the situation with its own peculiarity. So that is why you see people, that's why you see that any time there is an uproar, any time there is anything against the military, you notice that this society is always going to be a panel set up, a different panel set up by the government of the day to address the issue at its own peculiarity. So it is not a duplication per se, it is just a means to get to an end. And you also argue with me that if you take a peculiar matter that leads to the courts and follow the true process of courts, it could delay the process. And because the people too in that particular society will not have so much access to justice. So with this, it gives them access to the location and I'm very sure it's going to be very close to them. It also gives the people who understand the community very well opportunity to address the case. Like the justice said, he said that everybody will be listening to both the military, both the council, both the people, everybody will be listening to. And I really don't think it's a duplication. I think it's a good procedure and it will give justice. And justice delayed, it's already just denied. So I mean, this is a good process. You know, also, I mean, if you remember vividly, there was a report that was being made and in this report it was alleged that the Niger army had been running a secret abortion program for rescued women and girls, which about 10,000 of pregnancies have been aborted. And that was since 2013. But, you know, the military had denied the report. So with this panel, do you think that justice will be served or do you see any tangible results or, you know, some sort of hope in all of this? Because I mean, if you commit a crime, it's just not natural that you are accepted if you're confronted with it, that's what it is. So do you see this panel bringing hope as they're going to be justice? What do we make of the fact that the military is also in denial of several allegations that have been put out with evidence? OK, yeah. You know, like I said before, it's going to be a panel that will listen to everyone. Yeah, that's right. And also the allegations against the military and like every other person, the military is like every other body at first accusation. They've got to be denied and upon evidence and proper evidence, and magistrations and everything, be able to find out who did what, what happened and a clear process of what really happened. So in this circumstance, I wouldn't say in the strict sense of like, I'm sure that the military has done anything or the military has committed these offenses, but we all know that it may not be far from the truth. Once there is, once there is smoke, it must have been fired some way. So so I'm not, I'm not going to be surprised that something has happened. But you can see there could be inflation of numbers. There could be, you know, inflation of details, you know, hearsay evidences and all that. So I mean, at the point where we have everybody come to speak for themselves, come to come to them and discuss exactly what they think that happened. I mean, at that point, we'll be able to know exactly, I believe, when I trust the fact that the Supreme Court justice to justice to this situation. So I also, I also appreciate the fact that federal government understands this part too and not just dismiss the fact that they said, now the hearsay or whatever. So I appreciate the process and I am very glad this kind of thing is happening. So, but like you also know, just like the panel in Lagos, we don't want such a situation where the panel will give a judgment. Nobody is following the process of the panel will will not be able to say exactly what they want. But I mean, as long as there is justice and proper cessation of justice, I believe the people we can get justice. I know that's definitely there is no way you can compensate the person for some wrongs. Right. But I mean, at least something that's something they had to do. I mean, I mean, if you if you if you juxtapose the panels because like you have said, it's very commendable. But, you know, we live in a climate where Nigerians have lost trust. There's a trust deficit with those who are calling the shots and those who are, you know, taking the orders. So the road and the, you know, the other class of people does a trust deficit. Now, vividly, you we making reference to the answers panel. And you want to juxtapose that with this panel that's been put out. Are there prospects? Is there any hope for justice for these victims? Well, just like every regular Nigerian, you know, every other person where we are, we are hoping for justice. Yes. And I wouldn't say there is not going to be justice. I believe that there's going to be justice. I mean, I'm not part of the panel, but I saw it. I saw a list of people in the panel. And I mean, I believe there's going to be justice. But we know that because probably we've lost trust in the system, a lot of people have lost trust in the judicial system. Yeah, it's going to be a bit, you know, you know, it is going to be a bit hard for people to come to think that, oh, this has happened and they believe that's called the people of dangerous. It's even if, as I'm speaking to you, someone, the panel will be able to find out that it's only 100 people that actually had a portion. I don't think Nigerians will also believe. I think I think the first thing for us to do is to also give this panel, give give the justice system opportunities sometimes to to come up with, you know, come up with a decision. I know I know there are there have been situations where it's OK for the decision. So if we say that if you say that you are hopeful, I don't know how many Nigerians are very hopeful. And those who are victims, of course, in the course of all of this, if, you know, there's any hope for that, because it's OK to have a panel, constitute a panel. It's OK for the panel to be thorough in our investigation. It's also expected that the panel would come up with, you know, reports and proposal and what have you. There's also need to implement it. So at the end of the day, there's always this saying that you can't be a judge in your own case. And that's something that you are conversant with as a legal practitioner. So what exactly is, you know, the level of trust? Trust, I beg your pardon, that there will be justice served despite the outcome. Let's even say that we trust the panel to be able to be thorough in the investigation. But what exactly? Because this panel, I'm not the one who set up the panel. So those who are, you know, involved in the business of governance are still the ones who have set up this panel and the people who have been accused of this crime are also still part of the same system. So where exactly is the hope for justice and thoroughness? OK, all right. We all know that the the arms of government divided into three rights. And then the judiciary is different from the executive and the military is inside the executive, right? The fall, the fall under the executive. You also get the people. The people are not on that judiciary. So what I'm trying to say is this. You cannot be a judge by all matter in the sense that a judge is he's a trained it, you know, a trained and has been trained in in in the Nigerian law school. He has been a judge for years for him to be a Supreme Court justice. And not only that, this is a different body from every other part of the of the couple. So so it's going to be it's going to be a just one. I believe it is the there's no duplication of offices. I think that offices are not together and also believe that this is a different office from from the office of the nature. It is a different office on its own. If you put a different office, so definitely it is not been the judge over all matter. It is a different body and educating a trained body, educating over the part of the society. And I don't know if that answers your question. Jeff, in Waleima, we have to go now. Thank you so much for being part of the show. We do appreciate your time and your thoughts. Do have a very much right then. Jeff in Waleima is a legal practitioner right here. Legals who joined the conversation. We have been looking at, you know, the prospect of justice and hope for those who have actually been, you know, violated. I mean, your rights have been trampled upon and quite commendable to say that the government has started wise to establish a panel, you know, of investigation to all of those crimes or whatever it is. However, you want to put it, that's the much we can take right now. And we hope you had a great time pulling the show from seven o'clock up until this moment. We'll definitely return tomorrow with more exciting lineup. And we hope forward to having you being part of the conversation. You can also follow it if you missed out on any part of it via social media platforms and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And subscribe to a YouTube channel at Plus TV Africa and Plus TV Africa lifestyle. I am Messier Bocpo to have a great morning. We'll join the newsroom at nine o'clock for the news brief. Please stay with us.