Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights
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NOHR is an online not-for-profit media project with a focus on human rights news, views, analysis, and reports focusing on Nigeria and the sub-Sahara region
02/06/2026
A Delta State High Court has ordered five dismissed police officers, including former Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman, to be remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre over the extrajudicial killing of suspect Oghenemine Ogidi in Effurun on April 26.
The officers were arraigned on Monday, June 1, before Justice Marshal Onome Umukoro at High Court 5 in Asaba, in a case filed under Suit No. THC/ASB/CR/M/66C/2026. The court adjourned proceedings until June 15 for formal arraignment, following a request for legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Journalists were barred from the courtroom during the hearing.
The defendants are ASP Usman Nuhu, 42; ASP Onoloko Dauroupamo, 47; ASP Okoh Kelechi, 46; Inspector Goodluck Kingsley, 42; and Inspector Omonigho Ahweyevu, 41.
Dismissed ASP Nuhu Usman, Four Others Remanded Over Extrajudicial Killing of Delta Suspect - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights A Delta State High Court has ordered five dismissed police officers, including former Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman, to be remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre over the extrajudicial killing of suspect Oghenemine Ogidi in Effurun on April 26. The officers were arraigned on...
23/05/2026
Words like “unusual”, “dangerous”, “betrayal” are being used by NGOs monitoring the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a highly critical response to an announcement that there will be no ICC investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in Nigeria. The ICC “is not intended to replace national courts”, agrees Alice Banens from Amnesty International, but it is “intended to step up” when national courts are not holding accountable those responsible. “In Nigeria, over 15 years have passed without justice,” she says.
In 2020, the office of the prosecutor declared that there was sufficient evidence to open an investigation into the situation in Nigeria, following a ten-year preliminary examination. What was expected was that the prosecutor would have asked the judges for permission to open an investigation propriu motu – which enables him to act where the court has jurisdiction.
This declaration was one of former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s last acts before handing over to Karim Khan in 2020. Both Nigeria and Ukraine were then in the same position – on the verge of a full investigation – expecting the new prosecutor to deliver.
In Nigeria’s case, this would be based on the prosecutor’s analysis that, despite a number of trials of Boko Haram members and other Islamic groups’ members as a result of the insurgency in the country’s north east, those tried were “low level perpetrators” and there was not sufficient commitment by the authorities into investigating and prosecuting alleged crimes by their own forces: “where proceedings are asserted to have been conducted, the information available did not demonstrate any tangible, concrete, and progressive steps by the authorities to address allegations against members of the NSF [Nigerian Security Forces],” says Chuka Arinze-Onyia, who has worked as a criminal defence lawyer in Nigeria, and is now teaching at Griffith University in Australia.
WHY IS THE ICC BURYING THE NIGERIA CASE - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights By Janet H. Anderson Words like “unusual”, “dangerous”, “betrayal” are being used by NGOs monitoring the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a highly critical response to an announcement that there will be no ICC investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in Nigeria. The ICC “...
19/05/2026
A self-styled vigilante boss accused of murder, torture, and operating a private detention facility in Imo State was arrested last Thursday on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, only to be released the same day, allegedly following the intervention of a local government chairman.
Chibuike Duru, widely known by his alias “Nwangbenta,” was apprehended by officers acting on a directive from Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso, who had invited victims of the gang leader’s alleged atrocities to meet with him directly the day before.
“The commissioner met with all his victims, including the family of the woman whose son he allegedly killed and set on fire,” a source close to the investigation told NOHR. “He was so angered by the atrocities that he ordered Nwangbenta’s detention immediately.” The source added that authorities were “surprised” when Duru was released that same day, reportedly after the chairman of Njaba Local Government Area intervened.
Human rights lawyer Justus Ijeoma called the release deeply troubling. “The fact that the release was not authorised by the CP who initially ordered the detention, and the speed at which it happened, shows that Nwangbenta has been receiving protection from highly placed politicians in Imo State,” Barrister Ijeoma told NOHR. Read more:
Vigilante Boss Nwagbenta Arrested, Freed Within Hours After Victims Meet With Imo Commissioner Of Police - Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights A self-styled vigilante boss accused of murder, torture, and operating a private detention facility in Imo State was arrested last Thursday on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, only to be released the same day, allegedly following the intervention of a local government chairman. Chibui...
A self-styled vigilante boss accused of murder, torture, and operating a private detention facility in Imo State was arrested last Thursday on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, only to be released the same day, allegedly following the intervention of a local government chairman.
Chibuike Duru, widely known by his alias "Nwangbenta," was apprehended by officers acting on a directive from Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso, who had invited victims of the gang leader's alleged atrocities to meet with him directly the day before.
"The commissioner met with all his victims, including the family of the woman whose son he allegedly killed and set on fire," a source close to the investigation told NOHR. "He was so angered by the atrocities that he ordered Nwangbenta's detention immediately." The source added that authorities were "surprised" when Duru was released that same day, reportedly after the chairman of Njaba Local Government Area intervened.
Human rights lawyer Justus Ijeoma called the release deeply troubling. "The fact that the release was not authorised by the CP who initially ordered the detention, and the speed at which it happened, shows that Nwangbenta has been receiving protection from highly placed politicians in Imo State," Barrister Ijeoma told NOHR.
Read more here:
16/05/2026
SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL SETTING ASIDE THE SENTENCE AND CONVICTION OF MAJ.GEN HAKEEM OLADAPO OTIKI IN NIGERIAN ARMY V. MAJ GEN H.O OTIKI BY THE GENERAL COURT MARTIAL.
The facts leading to the Appeal is that Major General H.O. Otiki, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Sokoto, was accused and Court Martialed over the movement of ₦100 million on 11 July 2019, meant for the purchase of furniture for renovated military quarters but stolen by the soldiers directed to move the money and who have deserted the army.
On the 16th of June 2020, a General Court Martial convicted him on all counts and sentenced him to dismissal from the Nigerian Army with disgrace and dishonour, reduction in rank from Major General to Brigadier General, and severe reprimand. The findings and sentence were subsequently confirmed by the Army Council on 24 November 2020.
Not satisfied with the decision of the General Court Martial (GCM), Major General Otiki appealed to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in CA/ABJ/CR/54/2022. In a judgment of Court of Appeal delivered on 5th of December, 2024, it allowed the appeal, nullified the entire proceedings and judgment of the General Court Martial, discharged and acquitted Major General Otiki, restored him to the rank of Major General, and ordered payment of all his salaries, allowances, entitlements, and refund of forfeited monies.
Disatisfied with the Judgement of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian Army challenged it at the Supreme Court in SC/CR/96/2025. The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision of five man Panel delivered on Friday,15th May, 2026, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal and dismissed the appeal in favour of General Hakeem Oladapo Otiki.
This photo shows Nelson Mandela with Donald Card, the policeman who arrested him on 5 August 1962 near Howick, KZN. At the time, Mandela was disguised as a chauffeur and was wanted for inciting strikes and leaving the country illegally. Card stopped the car, recognized him, and made the arrest that led to Mandela’s 27-year imprisonment.
After Mandela was released in 1990 and became president in 1994, he sought out people from his past to promote reconciliation. In 1996, he visited Card at his home in the KZN Midlands. Card had left the police force and was running a guest lodge with a collection of vintage cars.
They met several times, had long talks, and appeared together publicly. Mandela said he wanted to show that South Africa’s future depended on letting go of bitterness. Card said meeting Mandela again changed his view of what the struggle was about. The photo in front of Card’s 1952 Bentley was taken during one of those visits in the late 1990s.
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