A comparative legal analysis of human rights norms and institutions in Nigeria and Canada, with a particular focus on the issue of unlawful arrest and detention

• Main Author: Nnaji, Nichodemus
• Other Authors: Ozsu, Umut (Law)
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Human Rights; Public International Law
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/31245

Since the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission (“NHRC”) of Nigeria, high expectations that the commission will ensure effective protection of human rights have dwindled due to pervasive human rights violations. Of great concern is that the security agencies in Nigeria, particularly the police who are empowered under the law to ensure obedience to law and order, often engage in unlawful arrest and detention. This thesis offers a comparative legal analysis of human rights norms and institutions in Nigeria and Canada, with a particular focus on the issue of unlawful arrest and detention. It argues that NHRCs have been unable to effectively address unlawful arrests and detentions by the Nigeria police, and that Nigeria can borrow from Canada’s human rights system to improve her human rights institutions and practices, especially with regard to arrest and detention. It also offers recommendations from the lessons drawn from Canada’s human rights system. === May 2016