A/RES/51/109
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situation of human rights in Nigeria,5 including the absence of representative
government in Nigeria contrary to the popular support for democratic
government as evidenced in the 1993 elections,
Also recalling the announcement made by the Government of Nigeria on
1 October 1995, in which it affirmed the principle of multi-party democracy,
the principle of power-sharing and its intention to lift the ban on political
activities and the press, to devolve power to the local levels of government
and to subordinate the military to civilian authority,
Welcoming the report of the mission sent to Nigeria by the SecretaryGeneral pursuant to resolution 50/199, and noting the interim response of the
Government of Nigeria to that mission,
Welcoming also the resumption of dialogue between Nigeria and the
Commonwealth,
Noting the action taken to date to move towards a system of multi-party
democracy, including the registration of five political parties and the
intention to hold elections, on a party basis, to the local councils in
December 1996, as well as the release of a number of detainees and the repeal
or amendment of measures which were seen as obstacles to human rights,
Regretting, however, that a number of political associations have been
instructed to disband on the grounds that they did not meet the requirements
stipulated in the transition process,
Taking note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special
Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the independence of judges and
lawyers and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,6
Noting with deep concern reports of grave violations of human rights,
including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and arbitrary
detention, and failure to respect due process of law, as described in,
inter alia, reports submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the independence of
judges and lawyers and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, as well as in the concluding observations of the Human
Rights Committee,7
Stressing the importance of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the
independence of judges and lawyers and the Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to undertake a joint
investigative mission to Nigeria, as requested by the Commission on Human
Rights in its resolution 1996/79,
5
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1996, Supplement
No. 3 (E/1996/23), chap. II, sect. A.
6
See 51/538.
7
See CCPR/C/79/Add.65.
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