Civil Liberties Organization is a Nigerian non-governmental organization focused on human rights and pro-democracy advocacy.

History

The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has been promoting human rights in Nigeria since it began in 1987. On 12 August 1993, CLO's founder and president Olisa Agbakoba, was part of the leaders of the pro-democracy campaign against the nullification of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections by General Ibrahim Babaginda. Many CLO members were arrested and detained for several weeks and hospitalized after their release due to the harsh conditions they were subjected to while some still faced charges for possession of prodemocracy leaflets. In 1995,

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is a quasi-judicial body tasked with promoting and protecting human rights and collective (peoples') rights throughout the African continent as well as interpreting the African Char ...

received the petition of Civil Liberties Organization v. Nigeria, Comm. No. 129/94 (1995) where the CLO alleges that the military government of Nigeria had suspended the constitution, dissolved political parties, threatened the judiciary by ousting the jurisdiction of the courts, violated citizen fundamental rights, and enacted decrees in violation of the African Charter.

Recent activism

* In 2014, the CLO sued the Inspector General of Police to court over prolonged detention of pro-Biafra activists. * In February 2018, the CLO petitioned

Ibikunle Amosun Ibikunle Amosun (; born 25 January 1958) is a Nigerian politician, former governor of Ogun State and two-term senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He first served as an elected senator for Ogun Central district of Ogun State, Nigeria from ...

, then governor of

Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It is bordered to the south by Lagos State and the Bight of Benin, to the east by Ondo State, and to the north by Oyo and Osun states while its western border forms part of the national borde ...

over unlawful acquisition of land in the state. * In August 2018, the CLO threatened to sue

Nyesom Wike Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (born 13 December 1964) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who has served as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory since 2023. He previously served as the governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023. He is an Ikw ...

, then governor of

Rivers State Rivers is a states of Nigeria, state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed on 27 May 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Nigeria, Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include Imo State, Im ...

for not fulfilling his promise to create the 5,000 civil service jobs for people of the state as he promised in 2019. * In July 2021, the CLO in

Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state takes its name from the Qua ...

state protested the possible suppression of the EndSARS panel recommendations to the Akwa Ibom State Governor,

Udom Emmanuel Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (born 11 July 1966) is a Nigerian politician and accountant who served as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2015 to 2023. He contested for the office of governor in the April 2015 elections on the platform of Peoples D ...

, by the panel's members. * In July 2023, the CLO condemned the hike of pump price caused by the removal of petroleum subsidy by the presidential administration of

Bola Ahmed Tinubu Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu (born 29 March 1952) is a Nigerian politician serving as the 16th and current president of Nigeria since 2023. He previously served as the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, and senator for Lagos ...

Notable members

* Ahmed Adamu, Nigerian petroleum economist and lecturer, one time publicity secretary of the Kaduna branch of the CLO. * Ayo Obe, British-Nigerian lawyer former president of the CLO. *

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani Auwal Musa Rafsanjani is a Nigerian civil rights activist and the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre. He is the chairman, Board of Amnesty International, Nigeria. Early life and education Rafsanjani was born i ...

, founder of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, member. * Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission, worked with the CLO as director of projects and planning. *

Alex Ibru Alex Ibru (1 March 1945 – 20 November 2011) was a Nigerian businessman, founder and publisher of ''The Guardian'' (Nigeria) newspaper, who was minister of internal affairs from 1993 to 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. ...

, Nigerian Billionaire businessman, founder and publisher of

The Guardian (Nigeria) ''The Guardian'' is a Nigerian independent daily newspaper, established in 1983, published by Guardian Newspapers Limited in Lagos, Nigeria. History ''The Guardian'' was established in 1983 by Alex Ibru, an entrepreneur, and Stanley Macebuh, ...

newspaper, provided funding to the CLO during General Ibrahim Babangida's regime.Okafor 2006, pp. 146 *

Gani Adams Chief Ganiyu Adams , popularly known as Gani Adams (born April 30, 1970), is a Nigerian activist, politician, traditional aristocrat and the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo Town. Early life Gani Adams was born on April 30, 1970, at Arigidi-Akoko, ...

, activist and current Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Public Relations Officer of Mushin local government chapter of the CLO in 1993 * Nnimmo Bassey, Nigerian architect, served on the Board of Directors of the CLO in the 1980s * Ogaga Ifowodo, Nigerian lawyer, CLO human rights legal volunteer * Abdul Mahmud, Nigerian lawyer, served as Director of Legal Services, the CLO. * Emmanuel Onwe, human rights activist, Onwe was a founding member of the CLO.

References

{{Reflist Human rights organizations based in Nigeria Organizations established in 1987