The International Human Rights Commission – Relief Fund Trust (IHRC–RFT) Nigeria Office has strongly refuted allegations of bias and selective intervention in its human rights advocacy, reaffirming its commitment to impartiality, justice, and the protection of the rights of all Nigerians without discrimination.
Responding to concerns raised in some quarters over its perceived silence on certain human rights issues, the organization said its interventions are guided solely by verified complaints and credible evidence, not by ethnic, religious, political, or social considerations.
In a statement signed by its Country Director, Ambassador Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, IHRC–RFT Nigeria explained that it is a non-partisan and non-discriminatory human rights organization affiliated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), operating in line with internationally recognized human rights principles.
The Commission stressed that its activities are anchored on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), particularly the provisions affirming the equality, dignity, and rights of all people, as well as protection against discrimination and equality before the law.
According to the statement, the organization’s membership reflects Nigeria’s rich diversity, bringing together individuals from different ethnic, religious, and regional backgrounds, a structure it said reinforces its commitment to fairness and inclusiveness.
IHRC–RFT Nigeria further clarified that it does not initiate interventions arbitrarily, noting that its investigations, public statements, and advocacy efforts are undertaken only after formal complaints or requests for intervention have been received and subjected to preliminary verification.
The Commission cautioned members of the public against interpreting its absence from public discourse on particular incidents as evidence of bias or selective justice.
“It is important to understand that where no formal complaint has been received or where sufficient information is unavailable, the organization may be unable to intervene. Silence should therefore not be misconstrued as indifference or partisanship,” the statement noted.
Reiterating its commitment to the protection of human rights, the Commission pledged to continue advocating for justice, accountability, and equal treatment for every Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender, political affiliation, or social status.
The organization also encouraged citizens, civil society groups, and affected communities to formally report alleged human rights violations, assuring that every complaint would be handled professionally, objectively, and in accordance with international human rights standards.
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