Recruitment Tragedy - 'NIS Is Liable of Manslaughter' after 700 Million naira

THERE is no doubt that the immigration officials responsible for the national tragedy of March 15 2014 that resulted in the death of 16 young Nigerians could be liable for the offence of manslaughter. There is ample evidence to prove all elements of the offence.

Manslaughter is the non-deliberate killing of a person by criminally negligent action or omission. In other words, in proof of manslaughter, we need not to look for any deliberate intention to kill. In fact, there could be very good intention to do what led to death of another person, but once it is shown that there is criminal negligence, then the culprit is liable for the offence.

There is no doubt that the death of 16 Nigerian young men and women at the Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment test grounds across the country on March 15 2014 resulted from gross negligence of those responsible for the exercise. Whether their conduct constituted criminal negligence is dependent on the degree of their failure to do the right thing in the context of their professional responsibility, knowledge and facilities available to them. In manslaughter, the motive of the conduct is irrelevant.

In examining the criminal conduct of the NIS officials in the episode, let us look at the facts of the case.

Over a period of more than one year, NIS announced vacancies in its service and its intention to recruit young graduate cadet officers. The available positions were barely over 4000. NIS required applicants to apply for the job with payment of one thousand naira.

Within few weeks, nearly half a million applicants have paid up and applied, and by end of the year, over three quarter of a million. With 700,000 applicants paying the application fee, NIS or its officials responsible raked up 700 million naira. This does not include those whose applications were technically rejected. The said sum of money was said to be the recruitment management and application processing fee.

In other words, the doggy fee collection was meant to provide the facilities to ensure smooth recruitment exercise. There is no basis in law for an institution like NIS to charge money for job recruitment exercise, because it has budget approved for human resources, recruitment and induction training. - http://allafrica.com/stories/201403200227.html

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