Falana, George, laud presidential panel on armed forces

Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Prof. Akinseye George (SAN) on Thursday
applauded the Presidential Investigation Panel on Armed Forces in
Nigeria.

The panel was set up to review compliance of the Armed Forces
with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria made their commendations on the
sideline of the panel’s winding up of its hearing in Abuja.

Mr Fanala (SAN) is the counsel to detained leader of the Islamic
Movement of Nigeria ( IMN ), El-Zakzaky, while Prof. George (SAN)
is the counsel to the Nigerian Army.

Falana, however, said that with the way the panel had conducted
its proceedings he was confident that the outcome would be pleasing
to all parties.

According to him, I know the panel is made up of people of
proven integrity and I know that based on the evidence before them,
they will write reports and make appropriate recommendations in the
interest of our country.

George also said that the panel had done a great job, adding
that the establishment of the panel by the Federal Government was
laudable.

“We pray and hope that the report of this panel will not go down
the drain, the whole world is waiting for the outcome of this
panel.

“Everybody has been saying investigate and now the Federal
Government has taken the bull by the horn, government has done the
right thing by setting up this investigation.

“It is hoped that the reports of the panel will not end on a
shelve, and that the report will be implemented by the government
so as to show the good work that the military is doing and area of
improvement.

Meanwhile, Prof George said that the panel had helped to show
that the Nigeria military personnel were well trained, adding that
they had done a great job to preserve and defence the country from
being overrun by terrorists.

According to him, the efforts of the Nigeria army in various
operations are like surgical operations; when a patient goes for
surgical operation, certainly there must be pain.

He added that the purpose was not to kill the patient but to
preserve the life of the patient, adding that this is the sense in
which we must understand the operation of the Nigeria military in
situations of conflict.

“The military has done a great service for the country by
preventing and minimising the impact of such negative
tendencies.

According to him, there are no systematic violations of human
right or pattern of violation of human rights by the military; it
has not been established to the best of my knowledge.

NAN

Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Prof. Akinseye George (SAN) on Thursday
applauded the Presidential Investigation Panel on Armed Forces in
Nigeria.

The panel was set up to review compliance of the Armed Forces
with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria made their commendations on the
sideline of the panel’s winding up of its hearing in Abuja.

Mr Fanala (SAN) is the counsel to detained leader of the Islamic
Movement of Nigeria ( IMN ), El-Zakzaky, while Prof. George (SAN)
is the counsel to the Nigerian Army.

Falana, however, said that with the way the panel had conducted
its proceedings he was confident that the outcome would be pleasing
to all parties.

According to him, I know the panel is made up of people of
proven integrity and I know that based on the evidence before them,
they will write reports and make appropriate recommendations in the
interest of our country.

George also said that the panel had done a great job, adding
that the establishment of the panel by the Federal Government was
laudable.

“We pray and hope that the report of this panel will not go down
the drain, the whole world is waiting for the outcome of this
panel.

“Everybody has been saying investigate and now the Federal
Government has taken the bull by the horn, government has done the
right thing by setting up this investigation.

“It is hoped that the reports of the panel will not end on a
shelve, and that the report will be implemented by the government
so as to show the good work that the military is doing and area of
improvement.

Meanwhile, Prof George said that the panel had helped to show
that the Nigeria military personnel were well trained, adding that
they had done a great job to preserve and defence the country from
being overrun by terrorists.

According to him, the efforts of the Nigeria army in various
operations are like surgical operations; when a patient goes for
surgical operation, certainly there must be pain.

He added that the purpose was not to kill the patient but to
preserve the life of the patient, adding that this is the sense in
which we must understand the operation of the Nigeria military in
situations of conflict.

“The military has done a great service for the country by
preventing and minimising the impact of such negative
tendencies.

According to him, there are no systematic violations of human
right or pattern of violation of human rights by the military; it
has not been established to the best of my knowledge.

NAN