Digital Rights: CITAD Condemns Unlawful Detention of Citizens

CITAD Demands Citizens’ Digital Right Be Respected, Calls For An End To ‘Continued Unlawful Detention’Of Citizens https://arewaagenda.com/citad-demands-citizens/

CITAD demands release of detained journalist by Sen. Elisha Ishiaku Abbo 

NGO Demands Respect Of Digital Right For Nigerians https://nigeriantracker.com/2023/01/06/ngo-demands-respect-of-digital-right-for-nigeri

CITAD Wants Nigerian Police to End Unlawful Detention of Citizens 

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on Security Agencies to respect the right of the citizens and unlawful detentions.

This was made known in a press release which was signed by Ali Sabo, Program Officer, obtained by TechMirror. The statement reads parts; “Our attention is been drawn to the Nigerian security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police force for its continued arbitrary arrest and detention of the citizens for exercising their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

It is important to state here clearly that section (IV) sub section (c) of the Nigerian constitutions has prohibits any security agency from unlawful arrest, incarceration or detention of the citizens without following due process” “What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is clearly contrary to what the Nigerian constitution has provided and these acts by the Nigerian security agencies if not checked and addressed will flung the country into anarchy and will negate the principles of democracy which is being practiced in Nigeria enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended” “We will remember that in the months of November and December we did organize similar press conferences during which we drew the attention of the Nigerian authority about the negative implications of these arbitrary arrests and detentions of the citizens to the country’s image in the comity of nations and to our young democracy.

It is a well-known fact that criticism is part and parcel of any democracy and it is one of the cardinal pillars through which democracy is being build, but this government in many occasions has displayed arrogance, impunity and lack of tolerance where at any slight instances has ordered the arrest of the citizens for excising their fundamental human rights” “It should be recalled that in the month of November, 2022, the Nigeria Police on the orders of the wife of the president arrested and detained a 500 level student of Federal University, Dutse, Aminu Adamu for merely excising his rights online.

He was held for days without being allowed access to his family or his lawyers. Also on the 11th of December, 2022, a minor named Umar Garba was arrested in Nguru Local Government Area, Yobe State over an alleged defamation of character of the Yobe State Governor, Maimala Buni.

The boy was held captive by the Nigeria Police for more than two weeks without a court order or any arrest warrant. Similarly, the boy was not taken to court” “These impunity being excised by the Nigerian politicians has transformed to another level to the extent that citizens are being deprived their fundamental human rights to speak about things that concern them and their country and interrogate their representatives without being harassed by the security agencies.

These cases have continued to grow spontaneously as many cases are being reported every day and in every corner of the country which is worrisome and threat to our democracy” “Another and more recent case we have received is the arrest and detention of Yau Saeed, a Freelance Journalist and founder of Y2S Online Television based in Yola that was arrested by the Nigeria Police, FCT Command by the order of Senator Elisha Ishiaku Abbo, Senator representing Adamawa North for excising his rights as citizen and journalist since 27th of December, 2022. The most unfortunate thing is that the Nigeria Police has refused the detained journalist access to his wife, lawyers and family” These arbitrary arrests of the citizens are against the Nigerian constitution and international covenant of human and people’s rights. Section IV of the Nigerian Constitution has clearly stated that: i.

Any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with section (1) (C) of this section shall be brought before a court of law within reasonable time.

The expression of reasonable time under this section means:

a. In case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is court of competent jurisdiction within a radius of 40 kilometres, a period of one day; and

b. In any other case, a period of two days or such longer period as in the circumstances may be considered by the court to be reasonable It is significant to know that allowing citizens to express themselves and constructively criticize leaders are cardinal to democracy and no democracy can grow where those at the helm of the affairs of the country are using the country’s security agencies to clamp down on dissents and activists.

“The collusion between security agencies and politicians to harass and intimidate citizens against freely expressing their opinions is a serious attack to our democracy. Democracy strives by the maintenance of a free market of opinions and availability of information that allow citizens to make informed choices in exercising their civic responsibility. When journalists are seized, detained, and tortured because they have exposed their dirty underbelly of some politicians, we are trampling on the foundation on which our democratic experiment is sitting”

We must also not forget that it was the brazen police brutality that led to the EndSars protest with all its attendance consequences to the nation. We cannot afford to continue to repeat this sad experience. Such illegal and unconstitutional acts and conduct by police and security agencies bread the ground and context for anarchy to set in which is of not good to anybody. It is based on these that we are calling on the:

1. Nigeria Police and its sisters’ security agencies to be neural in conducting their duties and should not allow themselves to be used as rent-organizations by politicians to shield their despicable acts and conduct.

2. The security agencies should respect the Digital Right of the citizens as they are the logical and legitimate extension of our fundamental human rights which are protected in our constitution and all the international instruments on human to which Nigeria is a signatory and the country is duty bound to accord the same respect to rights online as rights offline.

3. The Nigeria Police should desist from arbitrary arrest of the citizens and ensure they are following due process in the arrest and detention of the citizens

4. The Nigeria Police should avoid the unlawful detention of the citizens and ensure every arrest made is with an order of a competent court

5. Anybody arrested for any offence shall be taken to court within specified period of time as in the Nigeria constitution

6. Civil Society Organizations should join hands to call on the Nigeria security agencies to stop the arbitrary arrest of the citizens without due process

7. CSOs should collaboratively work together for a sustained advocacy to ensure the bill is to be passed and assented by the president “However we demand that the Nigeria Police should allow the detained journalist access to his family and lawyers and also his release together with all those arrested unlawfully” the statement states

28th December 2022
Gentlemen of the press, it is my honour and privilege to welcome you on behalf of the Centre for
Information Technology and Development (CITAD) to this press conference which is being
organized to draw the attention of the Nigerian authorities and other stakeholders to bring to
an end the continued harassment and detention of the citizens online in the country. These
harassments and continued detentions of the citizens without following due process is negating
the principles of democracy which is being practiced in Nigeria and absolute abuse of the
human rights of the citizens as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended.
Gentlemen of the press you will remember that last month, specifically on the 30 th of
November, 2022 we held a similar press conference to call on the Nigeria Government to
assent to the Digital rights Bill in the Country which will paves ways for digital development and
guaranteed citizens’ rights and protection on the internet. The Digital Rights Bill if being passed
will ensure guarantee application of the human rights which apply offline within the digital
environment and online and it will also ensure due process with the regard to arrest of anybody
deem to have committed any offence.
This particular press conference is necessary due to the increased of arrest of citizens by the
Nigerian security agencies on the order of some state governors. To highlight some of the
examples, on the 11 th of December, 2022, a minor named Umar Garba was arrested in Nguru
Local Government Area, Yobe State over an alleged defamation of character of the Yobe State
Governor, Maimala Buni. The boy was held captive by the Nigeria Police for more than two
weeks without a court order or any arrest warrant. Similarly, the boy was not taken to court up
to the time of his release
It would be recalled that another youth, a 500 level student of the Federal University, Dutse,
Aminu Adamu was also arrested last month over alleged defamation of character of the wife of
the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari. Similar case had also happened in Kano State were two
Tiktokers were arrested, detained and beaten for alleged defamation of character of the Kano
State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. If these arrests are allowed to continue the country is
going to be turned into an authoritarian one where citizens will not have the rights to express
themselves online.
.These arbitrary arrests of the citizens are against the Nigerian constitution and international
covenant of human and people’s rights. Section IV of the Nigerian Constitution has clearly
stated that:

i. Any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with section (1) (C) of this
section shall be brought before a court of law within reasonable time. The
expression of reasonable time under this section means:
a. In case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is court of competent
jurisdiction within a radius of 40 kilometres, a period of one day; and
b. In any other case, a period of two days or such longer period as in the
circumstances may be considered by the court to be reasonable

Digital Rights are the logical and legitimate extension of our fundamental human rights. They
are therefore protected in our constitution and all the international instruments on human to
which Nigeria is a signatory and the country is duty bound to accord the same respect to rights
online as rights offline.
Consequently, , we call on the following stakeholders to adhere to the followings:

1. The Nigeria Police should desist from arbitrary arrest of the citizens and ensure they are
   following due process in the arrest and detention of the citizens
2. The Nigeria Police should avoid the unlawful detention of the citizens and ensure every
   arrest made is with an order of a competent court
3. Anybody arrested for any offence shall be taken to court within specified period of time
   as in the Nigeria constitution
4. The president should ensure the speedy assent of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill as
   soon as it is transmitted to him as this will bring an end to the arbitrary arrest of the
   citizens by the Nigerian Security Agencies
5. Civil Society Organizations should join hands to call on the Nigeria security agencies to
   stop the arbitrary arrest of the citizens without due process
6. CSOs should collaboratively work together for an sustained advocacy to ensure the bill is
   to be passed and assented by the president

Ali Sabo
Program Officer
Digital Rights

CITAD urges FG to end violation of citizens’ digital rights 

CITAD worries over continuous arrest of citizens online by Gov’t authorities 

CITAD Decries Alleged Harassment, Detention Of Citizens Online By Government Authority https://arewaagenda.com/citad-decries-alleged/

CITAD Laments Alleged Harassment Of Citizen By One Of Nigerian Governors https://nigeriantracker.com/2022/12/29/citad-laments-alleged-harassment-of-citizen-by-one-of-nigerian-governors/

Beneficiaries Laud CITAD’s Stride Over Training On Digital Innovation 
https://infomedia.ng/beneficiaries-laud-citad/

A young enterprise and aspiring digital photographer said she actualized her lifelong dream of becoming a refined photographer through the auspices of Digital Livelihood training.

The training, organized by the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is aimed at facelifting the lives of young girls in contemporary digital innovation for sustainable development.

The beneficiary, identified as Hussaina Ibrahim Hamma made the revelation in Jama’are local government at the closing ceremony of Digital Livelihood training in Bauchi state.

Hamma said, “I have always had a passion for photography which was actualized by CITAD through the digital innovation program”.

“I gained suitable experience during the training which drastically changed my life. I developed an interest in photography after completing the digital livelihood training”.

“Now I don’t have any ambition other than to become a professional digital photographer in my life”.

She further said that “The skills acquired during the training will significantly assist in establishing and sustaining a business enterprise, particularly in areas of digital technology for self-reliance”.

She promised to leverage the knowledge obtained during the training and promote her chosen career.

The Digital Livelihood is a four-monthly program that took place in Jama’are and Itas Local Governments of Bauchi State and focused on training women on digital technology and digital entrepreneurship in northern Nigeria.

The program equips young girls and women with the basic knowledge of technology, skills acquisition, and information and communication technology (ICT) to make them self-reliant, and useful to themselves and employers of labor.

By Mustapha Salisu

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has been commended by a dozen young girls and women in Jama’are and Itas Local Government Area of Bauchi State for empowering them with Digital Livelihood skills.

Speaking to newsmen CITAD’s Technical Officer Engr. Suhail Sani Abdullahi said with the world becoming a global village in the face of modern technological innovations women should make the best use of digital innovations.

“It is a program that introduces them to basic and advanced knowledge on computer usage, business incubation and idea development designed to run for a year” He added.

According to him, technology/IT is important, considering that the world has advanced beyond the stage of doing things manually which makes technology-driven businesses more faster and successful.

Engr. Suhail further charged the participants to make good use of the opportunities provided to them by CITAD to establish their entrepreneurship empires.

The Technical Officer said the young women and girls trained on Graphics Design,  Audio, Video Editing and Photography among others. He said women and girls need to be empowered especially through the utilization of digital knowledge so that they can be self-reliant through different business areas.

Hussaina Ibrahim Hamma, an aspiring professional photographer who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, explained that they were equipped with knowledge on how to utilize ICT towards running a successful business enterprise as well as to bridge the gap between the genders.

“Adding that young women and girls need to be empowered especially through the utilization of digital knowledge so that they can achieve self-reliance in different business areas.

She also expressed her gratitude to the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) of the laudable programme and promised to make good use of the knowledge.

By
Sagiru Ado Abubakar

In Azare Bauchi state training centre, the women-focused incubators training entitled Digital
Creativity and Innovation for Young Women (DICI-YOW) that has been conducted by the Centre
for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Lenovo Foundation
has yesterday entered into third phase. The phase termed business ideation and aimed to
introduce the participants to the business environment, capital requirements, capital mobilizing
strategies, conceptualize the value chain of the business, understand the market and client
base building, digital marketing, labour and skills needed for the business and business
sustainability issues. The participants have since been trained in basic digital literacy that
consisted of Introduction to Windows, Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint and internet
application. Also, they undergone training on courses such as graphics design, mobile app
development, website design and some mobile and computer software (Mobile tools).
Due to the skills acquired, most of the trainees are eager to secure jobs or mobilize capitals and
start ICTs related businesses. To help the trainees achieve their dreams, yesterday at the Azare,
Bauchi state training centre, the trainees were trained on how to secure jobs or source
entrepreneurship and business support. The training let the participants to understand that
there are jobs available in Nigeria but most of the jobs come with certain set of requirements.
Soft skills such as the digital skills provided by Lenovo training are basic requirements that an
employer expects someone to have in order to be successful in a job position.
The training has yesterday demonstrated websites that the participants can visit such as
jobberman.com, ziprecruiter, teachaway, careerjet, indeed, linked in, glassdoor to secure jobs,
soft loans and grants from government initiatives like Bank of Industries (BOI), Bank of

Agriculture (BOA) and foundations so that they can be self-reliant and even employ others as an
entrepreneur cannot work alone.
Other opportunities shared to the participants included Women Startup Challenge, Tech
Startup Grant, 2023 ‘Open Minds – Young Voices’ Youth Activists Program, the 3rd Cohort for
iHatch free intensive incubation program and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
In order to make things easier, the participants were urged to be on CITAD facebook pages i.e
friends of CITAD, peace Now, CITAD Alumni etc where such information has been shared
regularly by Job Placement Information Services (JOPIS) scheme of CITAD assisting youth
looking for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities by bringing information about job
opportunities to them. JOPIS Unit are getting job opportunities on newspapers from Libraries,
collaborating with reliable sites advertising job opportunities and creating library and reference
on the job opportunities so that people can benefit from.

Digital Livelihood and Digital Creativity Beneficiaries Trained on Entrepreneurship, Business Support Sources

By

Sagiru Ado Abubakar

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) under Digital Livelihood and Digital creativity and Innovation Programs has trained young women and girls to acquire information communication technology (ICT) knowledge. The goal of these programs was to contribute to reducing the gender digital divide and unemployment through technology skill transfer that will enable young women and girls to acquire ICT-based entrepreneurship skill and set up small scale ICT-based businesses. To achieve aforementioned goal, on 11^th and 12^th December, 2022, the Job Placement Information Service (JOPIS) unit of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has organized sensitization workshops for the beneficiaries of digital livelihood and digital creativity innovation programs in both Kano and Bauchi (jJama’are and Itas) training centers on how to secure jobs and source entrepreneurship and business support.  

The workshops introduced the participants to sites that they can visit to secure soft loans and grants from government initiatives, Bank of Industries (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and foundations so that they can be self-reliant and even employ others as an entrepreneur cannot work alone. 

At the start of the workshop, a call of volunteers from Save the Children was shared and helped the participants to apply. The job opportunity is looking for applicants with ICT-Based skills similar with that of digital livelihood and digital creativity beneficiaries to actively involved in the implementation of the PLANE project. The opportunity paid attention to female candidates, marginalized groups and those with disabilities

Other opportunities introduced to the participants included Women Startup Challenge, Tech Startup Grant, 2023 ‘Open Minds – Young Voices’ Youth Activists Program, the 3rd Cohort for iHatch free intensive incubation program and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). 

Job Placement Information Services (JOPIS) is a scheme by CITAD to assist youth looking for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities by bringing information about job opportunities to them. Functions of JOPIS Unit are getting job opportunities on newspapers from Libraries, collaborating with reliable sites advertising job opportunities and creating library and reference on the job opportunities so as easily refer to it when the need arises.

Job Placement Officer will be responsibility for providing advice, council and information to prospective applicants. All job vacancies, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities are posting time to time on CITAD facebook groups “friends of CITAD”, “CITAD ALMUNI”, “Peace now” and pages

By News Desk

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), National Human Rights Commission, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other civil societies added their voices to the call against gender-based violence during an awareness walk on the streets of Kano.

The campaign is part of activities to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

Speaking on the awareness walk, the CITAD gender officer, Zainab Aminu said it was organized to create awareness of the threat of gender-based violence in the society.

Zainab said the recent increasing cases of gender-based violence gave cause for concern, submitting that the civil societies and media had a great role to play in educating the people, particularly victims, to speak out.

The gender officer also decried the rising cases of GBV in Kano, saying that, the Centre had recorded over 800 cases of rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse and online harassment from January 2022 to date.

She urged Kano State House of Assembly to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (VAPP), and the Kano State Child Protection Bill, to enhance the fight against sexual and gender based violence.

Zainab Aminu stressed that, if passed, the laws would go a long way in curbing the menace, where perpetrators would be prosecuted to have a safer society.

Gender-based violence must be put to a stop because it is an evil act. It ranges from rape, battery and child molestation, among others “

Also speaking, Head of Department Sexual and Gender Based Violence, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person’s (NAPTIP), Kano zonal command, Hajiya Rasheda Aminu Ibrahim highlighted that, lack of VAPP Act in Kano limits the prosecution of SGBV offenders.

She said, NAPTIP zonal command which compromise of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna and Bauchi states, was committed to eradicating sexual and gender based violence, child labour and molestation, human trafficking among others.

Responding, Deputy speaker Kano state house of assembly who doubles as Chairman house standing committee on Women Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Hassan Dashi reiterated the house commitment in passing the bill within the shortest period.

He said, a public hearing on child protection bill was organized by KNHA to collate inputs from the public, stressing that, the delay was to consult the different sects in line with cultural and religious teachings.

The road walk, organized by CITAD in collaboration with NAPTIP, Civil Defence, YOSPIS, Girls Gate Initiative, Bridge connect Africa initiative and CELOHA, witnessed large turnout of young men and women carrying placards with different inscriptions on the need to eradicate SGBV.

NEWS

GBV: Kano records 800 cases of rape, domestic violence in 11 months 

As Stakeholders task Kano Govt on speedy passage of VAPP, Child protection bills 

Dec 7, 2022 – 19:41

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Over 800 cases of rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse, online harassment from have been recorded in Kano State from January to November, 2022. 

The disclosure was made by the Gender Officer, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),  Hajiya Zainab Aminu, who decried the ever rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kano state. 

She spoke after a road walk to commemorate the 2022 16 Days Activism against GBV from National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Perrsons (NAPTIP), Kano office, to Kano state House of Assembly.

She called on the Kano State House of Assembly to, as a matter of necessity, pass into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) and the Kano state  child protection bills, to enhance the fight against sexual and gender based violence. 

Hajiya Zainab Aminu explained that the aim of the road walk was to create awareness on GBV and advocate for the speedy domestication of the  bills by relevant stakeholders.

She noted  that, if passed into law, the laws would go a long way in curbing the menace, where  perpetrators would be prosecuted in order to have a safer society.

Hajiya Aminu, therefore,  expressed concern over the delay by Kano State House of Assembly, in passing  the Child Protection bill, saying  that domestication and implementation of the act would help to curb gender-based violence in the state.

According to her, “Gender-based violence must be put to a stop because it is an evil act. It ranges from rape, battery and child molestation, among others.”

Also speaking, Head of Department, sexual and gender based violence, NAPTIP Kano zonal command, Hajiya Rasheda Aminu Ibrahim, highlighted that lack of VAP act in Kano limits the prosecution of SGBV offenders.

She said, NAPTIP zonal command which compromises of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna and Bauchi states, was committed to eradicating sexual and gender based violence, child labour and molestation, human trafficking, among others.

In a related development, the CITAD Program Officer, Digital Rights, Alhaji Ali Sabo, has said that “due to the refusal of the president to assent to this bill, Nigerians have been witnessing an increase in the violation of their digital rights by the Nigerian government and its security agencies.”

He said that it is imperative to know that assenting to this bill would pave the way for more development in the country and drive the country’s digital space to a better level.

According to him, the bill when assented to, will strengthen the citizens’ right to the internet and its free use without undue monitoring

 He said that it would help in identification of true owners of personal data which are the owners themselves and the  bill will also encourage the stipulation of due process that should be followed before access is granted to government agencies and others to personal data of citizens

He also noted that there were rampant cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) because president Muhammadu Buhari has not assented  to the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill in Nigeria which was passed by the National Assembly since 2018.

https://www.thecampuswatch.com/2022/12/08/naptip-citad-others-calls-for-domestication-of-child-rights-act-vapp/

https://stateflash.com/gbv-kano-records-800-cases-of-rape-domestic-violence-in-11-months

https://pyramidfm.com.ng/gbv-citad-naptip-nscdc-others-raise-awareness-campaign/

https://tribuneonlineng.com/stakeholders-task-kano-govt-on-speedy-passage-of-vapp-child-protection-bill/

https://saheliantimes.com/16-days-of-activism-citad-naptip-others-take-campaign-to-kano-streets/

https://justicewatchnews.com/kano-citad-naptip-others-call-for-domestication-of-vapp-child-rights-laws/

https://youtu.be/DzG8fDjkfWg

https://primetimenews.ng/gbv-activism-citad-urges-kano-state-house-of-assembly-to-domestic-implement-child-protection-law/

https://www.radionigeriakaduna.gov.ng/blog/2022/12/06/sgbv-stakeholders-advocate-domestication-

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has joined 163 organizations to call on the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and EU Member States to ensure that the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) protects the rights of all people including migrants.

This was contained in a draft jointly signed statement by CITAD, 163 global organizations and 29 individuals and was made available to newsmen by the Centre’s Executive Director, Engineer Yunusa Zakari Ya’u in Kano.

“The EU AI Act which was recently amended does not adequately address and prevent the harms stemming from the use of AI in the migration context.

“States and institutions are focused on promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in terms of benefits for wider society, marginalised communities and people on the move particularly migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

“But the states and institutions have failed to understand that the AI technologies fit into wider systems of over-surveillance, criminalisation, structural discrimination and violence,” the statement reads.

The statement added that solutions include to prohibit unacceptable uses of AI system in the context of migration and ensure that all AI systems used in migration are regulated.