PREFACE

Nigeria with an estimated population of over two hundred million (UN 2021 estimate) is Africa's largest democracy. The journey to the current democracy has been a chequered one. Following the overthrow of President Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari’s democratically elected government on 31 December, 1983 by the Nigeria’s Armed Forces, human rights, especially fundamental freedoms, took the backstage. The country further witnessed political and economic challenges, following the annulment of the June 12th elections in 1993. The political imbroglio and crisis that ensued, and the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa on 10 November 1995 caused sanctions to be imposed on Nigeria by the international community, especially the EU countries and the USA.