Abstract
The concept of protection of human rights in Nigeria seems elusive. Public officers statutorily saddled with the responsibility of protecting citizens and their rights guaranteed by the Constitution are now complicit in the violation of human right. In order words, most public officers are the main perpetuators of the infringement of such rights. This is contrary to the ombudsman awareness on human right and as clearly put by the afro-beat singer: Fela Anikulapo Kuti ‘human right is my property’. It is the view that human right is so sacrosanct that God abhors anyone who takes the life of another. There is a plethora of cases of violation of human rights by public officers in Nigeria. This is notwithstanding the fact that Nigeria has adopted and ratified several International Human Rights Instruments. Consequently, the applicability of human right to governance is yet to attain international best practices. This article x-rayed the non-compliance of some Nigerian public officers and agencies of government with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Anti-Torture Act. It is recommended inter alia that stiffer punishments should be meted on human rights violators.