Tinubu urged to allow direct access to African Rights Court

A coalition of 24 Nigerian and international civil society organisations has called on the Federal Government to urgently grant Nigerians direct access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The coalition includes the Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Paradigm Initiative, Spaces for Change, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Global Rights, HEDA Resource Centre, CLEEN Foundation, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Dataphyte Foundation, DIGICIVIC Initiative, Duty Solicitors Network, Social Action, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), CRADESC, Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), and Falana & Falana Chambers.

In a joint statement addressed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the groups urged Nigeria to make and deposit the declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol establishing the Court. This would allow Nigerians and eligible NGOs to directly approach the Court after exhausting domestic remedies.

“Nigeria’s continued refusal to make the Article 34(6) declaration undermines access to justice and effective remedies, as well as weakens accountability, particularly for victims whose cases are stalled, ignored, or inadequately addressed within the domestic legal system,” the organisations said.

According to the groups, “making the declaration would significantly strengthen the protection of rights guaranteed under the African Charter, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, digital rights, access to natural resources, and people-centred safety and security. It would also enhance state accountability and improve oversight of powerful non-state actors, including technology companies.”

Nigeria ratified the Protocol in 2004 but has yet to make the optional declaration, a failure the coalition says denies victims of human rights violations a vital regional avenue for justice. “Nigeria’s continued refusal to make the Article 34(6) declaration undermines access to justice and weakens accountability,” the statement read.

The groups noted that several African Union member states—including Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea‑Bissau, and Niger—have already made the declaration. They urged Nigeria to demonstrate leadership as one of Africa’s leading democracies.

The coalition stressed that adopting electronic transmission would strengthen protections under the African Charter, enhance accountability, and reinforce Nigeria’s role in promoting human rights across the continent.

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