The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, urging him to use his leadership position to ensure that the bill that would allow ‘repentant Boko Haram terrorists’ opportunities to access public funds to enjoy foreign education is immediately dropped.
SERAP also urged the Senate President to sponsor bills that would ensure access to justice and reparation for the victims of Boko Haram terrorist group.
In the letter dated 28 February 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said the bill erodes justice and makes a mockery of the suffering of victims, and the unspeakable human tragedy, humanitarian crisis and appalling atrocities committed by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
SERAP said by calling Boko Haram members ‘ex-agitators’, the bill mocks the victims of appalling atrocities committed by the terrorist group, and is a blatant affront to victims’ dignity.
SERAP also said should the Senate go-ahead to pass the bill, and should the bill be supported by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Registered Trustees of SERAP would take all appropriate legal actions nationally and internationally to challenge the legality of such law and ensure that it is never implemented.