Chido Onumah, coordinator of AFRICMIL
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) says it will host Nigeria’s first national forum for judges on whistleblowing and whistleblower protection.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, September 18, in Abuja, will be held in partnership with Tap iNitiative, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) and the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG).
With the theme “The judiciary and whistleblower protection in Nigeria: Challenges and responsibilities”, the forum is expected to deepen judicial understanding of the role of courts in protecting whistleblowers and interpreting norms around whistleblowing.
In a statement signed by Chido Onumah, AFRICMIL coordinator, the organisation said, “The judiciary is the cornerstone of any effective whistleblower protection system.”
Advertisement
“As we continue to advocate a robust legal framework, it is imperative that our judges are equipped with the knowledge and perspective to handle whistleblower cases with wisdom and fairness,” the statement reads.
“This forum will create a space for dialogue between the judiciary and civil society on this matter of urgent public importance.”
The forum will feature select judges of the federal high courts across Nigeria’s six zones, as well as heads of anti-graft agencies, police representatives, civil society actors and the media.
Advertisement
Anthony Ojukwu, executive secretary of NHRC and a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), will deliver the keynote address. His remarks will be followed by a five-member panel discussion.
AFRICMIL said discussions would cover issues such as balancing transparency with national security, ensuring whistleblower anonymity, and adjudicating cases of retaliation.
The organisation expressed concern that nine years after the introduction of the whistleblower policy through the presidential initiative on continuous audit (PICA), the absence of a dedicated law has eroded public confidence.
“A well-informed judiciary is essential for the success of any whistleblower legislation. The enactment of a law is only the first step. Its effectiveness will ultimately be determined by the courts,” the statement added.
Advertisement
“We are therefore proactively engaging the guardians of our constitution to build consensus on the importance of protecting citizens who expose corruption.”
AFRICMIL called on the federal government to fast-track the transmission of a draft whistleblower protection bill to the national assembly.
The event is supported by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), the MacArthur Foundation, the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN).
Advertisement
