FOI Counsel, a public interest law and human rights advocacy organisation, has strongly condemned the alleged brutal assault, public stripping, and degrading treatment of Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki in Benin City, Edo State, describing the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights.
In a statement, the organisation said the reported acts — including physical violence, forced nudity, and public humiliation — amount to serious breaches of the right to human dignity, freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to personal liberty. These rights, FOI Counsel noted, are guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
FOI Counsel lamented what it described as a failure of the Nigerian state to protect one of its citizens, referring to Dr. Obaseki as a prominent scholar known for his intellectual depth and creative contributions to architecture. The organisation expressed concern that the alleged abduction and abuse occurred in areas reportedly under the watch of multiple police officers assigned to provide security.
Given the seriousness of the incident and its wider implications for civic safety, the rule of law, and public accountability, FOI Counsel announced that it is offering Dr. Obaseki free legal representation. According to the statement, this support will extend to regional and international human rights mechanisms, including the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and other relevant international forums.
The group warned that failure to properly investigate and punish those responsible could embolden impunity, weaken public trust in state protection, and further endanger citizens. It therefore called on law enforcement agencies to immediately carry out a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the matter.
FOI Counsel stressed that Nigeria has a duty to protect its citizens in line with its domestic and international human rights obligations, reaffirming its commitment to defending victims of human rights violations and promoting accountability.
“No society governed by law should tolerate mob justice, public humiliation, or violence under any guise,” the organisation stated.
The statement was signed by President Aigbokhan, Esq., Lead Counsel of FOI Counsel.
