Shun sensationalism, NNHRD tells Huriwa

The Network of Nigerian Human Rights Defenders (NNHRD) has condemned the posture of some civil society organizations and human rights groups that have gone outside their role as civil society organizations.
The group on Monday, noted that the CSO’S have abandoned their role as promoters of good governance and societal values and resorted to raising unsubstantiated high fallutine allegations against certain persons, groups and government which has brought huge embarrassment to the human rights community.
In a release signed by the convener, Comrade Baruwa Ladan and Secretary,Ms.Maria Paul, the group particularly bemoaned the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) led by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko for its penchant in engaging in sensational, spurious and unsubstantiated reports in public space, noting with dismay his recent allegations, some of which include:
*The false alarm that the president was pressuring INEC to compromise the just concluded Edo Guber Poll, alleged exposing of fraud in several MDA’s without a shred of proof, alleged complicity of the Accountant General of the Federation in the fire incident at the AGF’S office without proof, alleged exposure of Diversion of huge public funds in the National Biotechnology Development Agency without proof, alleged exposure of corruption in the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, amongst others.
While blowing the whistle on alleged corrupt practices by citizens and CSO’S is in order, we strongly urge that such reports be reported to relevant anti-corruption bodies set up by law for investigation and prosecution; equally, as human rights groups, we all need to be reminded at all times of the right to Fair hearing and presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
The group concluded that going forward; it shall name and shame any group that engages in inappropriate conducts.