Travails of truth: achieving justice for victims of impunity in Nigeria.

Journal article


Yusuf, Hakeem O. 2007. Travails of truth: achieving justice for victims of impunity in Nigeria. The International Journal of Transitional Justice. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijm023
AuthorsYusuf, Hakeem O.
Abstract

Following its transition from authoritarian military rule marked by gross violations of human rights, Nigeria established the Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission (HRVIC) in 1999. This paper critically examines the contributions of the Commission popularly known as the ‘Oputa Panel’ to the field of transitional justice and the rule of law. It sets out the process of establishing the Commission, the mandate of the HRVIC and how this was interpreted during the course of the Commission’s work. The challenges faced by the Oputa Panel are analysed to serve as signposts for other truth commissions, particularly in relation to its legal status and relationship with the judiciary. Recourse by some powerful individuals to the judicial process in a bid to shield them from the Truth Commission merits particular review as it raises questions regarding the transformation of the judiciary and the rule of law in the wake of an authoritarian regime.

KeywordsOputa Panel; truth-seeking; Nigeria; authoritarian rule; political transition; judiciary
Year2007
JournalThe International Journal of Transitional Justice
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN1752-7716
1752-7724
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijm023
Web address (URL)http://hdl.handle.net/10545/623825
hdl:10545/623825
Publication dates10 Aug 2007
Publication process dates
Deposited10 Jun 2019, 13:50
Accepted01 Jan 2007
ContributorsUniversity of Glasgow
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