World News

ECOWAS parliament divided over military intervention in Niger

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The ECOWAS Parliament was on Saturday divided over the option of taking military action as an option for tackling the political situation in Niger Republic and restoring civil rule there.

Some members advocated for measures to prevent the intrusion of the military into politics in the region, whereas others highlighted diplomacy and dialogue as the optimal methods for addressing the crisis.

No fewer than 22 parliamentarians participated in the virtual extraordinary meeting to discuss the political crisis in Niger.

Some members who were against military intervention highlighted the economic woes that the people of Niger could experience if invaded.

Ali Djibo, from Niger Republic, said at least 9,000 schools had been closed owing to the crisis.

“War will only compound the economic woes the peoples of the sub-region are already going through.

“As we speak, over a thousand trucks, loaded with goods, are stranded at the border.

“If a coup happened in Nigeria or Cote’d’Iviore tomorrow, where’s the ECOWAS going to mobilise troops to fight the Nigerian or Ivorian military? How many borders are we going to close?

“We must also bear in mind that if we’re applying the ECOWAS treaty, it should be applicable to all.”

Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante (Rivers), ECOWAS must pay keen attention and treat the root causes of coups in ECOWAS countries.

Members of the ECOWAS Parliament making a case for military intervention in Niger said diplomacy had contributed in no small measure to the increase in the spate of military takeover of government in the West African sub-region.

Contributing, Adebayo Balogun, posited that ECOWAS leaders were proposing military action to remove the junta, not clamouring for a fully-fledged war.

He recalled that Niger was a signatory to ECOWAS’ revised protocol on non-military intervention.

Also, Bashir Dawodu expressed the belief that the body should open itself up to the possibility of a military option and apply pressure on the putschists while exploring dialogue.

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Nigeria doesn’t have ECOWAS biometric card- Official

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Omar Touray, president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, said only six of the 15 member states had the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC).

The commission’s president named the member states as Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.

Mr Touray said this while presenting his address on the implementation status of the community work programmes at the ongoing first ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja on Wednesday.

“ECOWAS is introducing innovative measures to facilitate free movement across the sub-region. We are working on introducing an ECOWAS Visa, ECOVISA, like that of Schengen VISA,” stated Mr Touray.

In a presentation on the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the commission’s president said enforcement of the court’s decisions remained a challenge.

“Records at the court show that there are a total of 106 judgments that have not been enforced by member states and another 11 by ECOWAS institutions,” he explained.

Moreso, he urged parliamentarians to facilitate the challenges militating against enforcing the court’s decisions.

“Even though the court is engaged with member states to resolve the challenges militating against the enforcement of its decisions, this is hopefully an area that the parliament can help in facilitating the resolution of the challenges,” he stated.

Mr Touray lauded the role of the court as a community institution. He said this was particularly an important force for promoting human rights, regional stability, and peace and security.

“Enforcement of its decisions is a critical component in determining its efficiency,” Mr Touray noted.

He said as of March 24, 641 cases had been filed at the court since 2003, of which 347 judgments and 135 rulings had been delivered.

The bloc first announced the biometric ID card programme in 2016 after leaders within the sub-region at the ECOWAS proposed to replace residence permits with biometric identification cards.

In 2019, Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the production of the identity card to replace the ECOWAS certificate by January 2020.

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15 ECOWAS states to benefit from €1.3m agroecology grant

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed grant agreements worth €1.3 million with 15 training centres to build capacity on agroecology in member states.

In a statement on the website of the ECOWAS, President of the commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, signed the grant agreements.

The capacity building programme is part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Agroecology Programme co-funded by the European Union and the French Development Agency.

The total budget of the grant agreements funded by the European Union was €1,320,784.43, representing about €88,000 per centre, and for an average duration of 18 months, aimed at training 12,000 young persons in the region.

According to the statement, the purpose of each grant is to establish the framework of collaboration between ECOWAS and the recipient centre for the implementation of the programme activities in West Africa.

This is with the general objective of building the human resource and environmentally friendly system expected to sustain and increase agricultural productivity and create a resilient rural society.

Selected following due consultation and assessment process, the 15 training centres represent one per member state.

Also, in supporting the centres through the agreements, ECOWAS seeks to improve the quality of training and the development of the centres’ capacities.

The quality of training would be on topical issues related to agroecology, and to increase the annual number of people trained.

The total target of the programme is about 12,000 young people, including men and women trained by 2024 in agroecology in the region.

One of the objectives of the support is to contribute to strengthening the training capacities of the centres to promote quality training systems.

Another objective is the increase in the number of young people trained, in particular rural people, and facilitating their connection with support organisations or partners.

This is for possible financing in the scaling up of agroecological practices.It is, however, composed of two projects.

They are the Support Project for Agroecological Transition in West Africa (PATAE), and the Support Project for the Dissemination and Implementation of Good Practices for Sustainable Agricultural Intensification (PAIAD).

With a total budget of €16.2 million, PATAE is funded by the French Development Agency at eight million euros, and PAIAD is funded by the European Union at 8.2 million euros.

It covers the 15 ECOWAS member states and is scheduled to end in 2024.

Lifestyle, Politics, World News

ECOWAS Needs Urgent Action Plan Against Terrorism in West Africa- President Buhari

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Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, has called for quick implementation of ECOWAS action plan against terrorism and other crimes in West Africa.

The president, who canvassed this position in his welcome address at the 62nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, yesterday, stressed that there is the urgent need to fully bring into operation, the regional action plan in the fight against terrorism and other acts of criminality in the sub-region.

According to him, this move would guarantee enhanced safety aimed at sustaining national governance efforts that would ensure the growth and progress of the West African sub-region.

He called on the new management team at ECOWAS Commission led by Dr. Omar Alieu Toure, to complete the review and harmonisation of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the sub-regional body.His words:

“The Commission must, therefore, work assiduously to complete the review and harmonisation of the Protocols on Good Governance and Democracy, as this would enable our sub-region to sustain our collective efforts to deepen, not only democracy but her dividends through good governance to the community citizens.”

Welcoming fellow regional leaders, President Buhari noted that this year’s summit was the 8th that Nigeria, under his leadership has hosted.

“All of those occasions, including this one, have brought honour and respect to my country as Nigeria continues to be at the centre of sustained solidarity and collaborative efforts to maximise our relationships in order to address common challenges to our countries and the community’s citizens,” he said.

The president paid tribute to his Ghanaian counterpart, Kuffour Addo-Nana, the immediate past Chairperson of the Authority for his services and congratulated President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau, on assuming the leadership of the sub-regional organisation, expressing his confidence in the latter’s ability to “discharge his responsibilities to the sub-region, as well as meet the expectations of the Community citizens.”

Buhari thanked fellow leaders for the support he received as the Regional Champion on COVID-19 at a time the pandemic ravaged the entire world, ascribing the successes recorded in the region to their cooperation.

“Let me specifically thank you, brother heads of state and government, for the confidence you reposed in me to be the Regional Champion on COVID-19, an opportunity that brought me to working closely with sectoral ministers, ECOWAS commission as well as the West Africa Health Organisation to develop regional mechanisms that mitigated the effects of the COVID-19.

“Without doubt, the commitment shown by member-states yielded very positive results as West Africa emerged as one of the regions with the least mortality rate, not only on the continent, but globally,” he declared.

The president, however, lamented that despite the efforts of ECOWAS leaders towards deepening democracy, the region suffered some unpleasant setbacks.

“Regrettably, some of our gains, especially, in fully democratizing our governance space, have faced and continue to face severe challenging threats from unconstitutional change of government as witnessed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea,” he said.

Earlier, at the official ground-breaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Headquarters Building, Buhari expressed appreciation to the government of the People’s Republic of China, “for their financial and technical contribution to ensuring that a monument of this nature, is built on behalf of our region.”

The building, to be named the EYE OF WEST AFRICA, with an expected completion period of 26 months, would house the three major ECOWAS Institutions, namely the ECOWAS Commission, the Community Court of Justice and the Parliament.

According to the President, “We have waited for this day, since 10th of July, 2019, when ECOWAS and the People’s Republic of China signed an implementation agreement for this diplomatic gift to the West African States.

“The new complex would represent the unity and brotherhood of the Member-States, as well as signify a re-commitment to progress and regional integration. It will be our home and a regional rallying point.”

In his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Cui Jianchun, said, “To sponsor and construct the new ECOWAS Headquarters is a vivid reflection of China’s support to the work of ECOWAS as well as the traditional friendship between China and the West African countries.

“We will continue to promote the common development of China and Africa, and are ready to make new contribution to the building of the China-Africa community with shared future in the new era.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Groundbreaking Ceremony for ECOWAS Commission Headquarters Held in Abuja

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The groundbreaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Commission Headquarters has been performed in Abuja.

The event took place at the commencement of the 62nd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in the Nigeria’s capital city.

The new headquarters project consists of a set of office buildings, comprising a central wing of ground floor plus 9 floors, framed by an east wing and a west wing (ground floor plus 7 floors) with a conference centre (ground floor plus 1 floor) and other buildings for maintenance, sports, care and bank.

The project, which is being financed by the Chinese Government through ChinaAid is expected to be delivered in 26 months.

In his opening address at the commissioning, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Alieu Omar Touray said the present activities of the ECOWAS Commission are being carried out in three seperate buildings across Abuja, Nigeria, and as such the need for a new secretariat that would accommodate all its staff in one location towards increasing productivity and efficiency.

He thanked the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for giving the land covering an area of seven hectares in the Institutions and Research Area located along the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport road for the building project.

Touray added that in July 2019, the ECOWAS Commission signed an implementation agreement with the Chinese Government who provided technical and financial support for the construction of the headquarters whose groundbreaking ceremony is being held, and praised the Heads of State and Government across the region for the cooperation and support towards the project and promised to ensure the completion of the project within the timeline proposed.

The Chinese Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Cui Jianchun said the government of China is keen on expanding diplomatic relations with Africa through support for construction projects like the new ECOWAS Commission heaquarters.

He said that new ECOWAS headquarters is the second interregional building to be sponsored by the Chinese government after the AU Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa.

He highlighted the principle of sincerity, real results and mutual partnerships which form the fulcrum of China’s strategy in Africa towards commitment to great good and common interests.

He however stated that these buildings demonstrate China’s sincere determination to support the unity, peace and development of the African region along her efforts to promote the Belt and Road Initiative to support Africa’s infrastructure development programme.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the host of the 62rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government,in a brief remark, said it is a great day for ECOWAS-China partnership after the signing of the implementation agreement for the construction of the new ECOWAS Commission Headquarters.

He said the construction of the building represent China’s commitment to West Africa’s sub-regional bloc and an evidence of a strong and mutual cooperation between Africa and China, adding that the new complex represent the unity and brotherhood of ECOWAS Member States and signifies a re-commitment to regional integration and development of the countries in the sub-region.

He thanked the Chinese Government for their technical and financial support for the building of a modern and befitting complex to house the ECOWAS Commission, and also praised the previous and current management of the ECOWAS Commission for working in collaboration with Nigeria and China towards the realization of the project.

The Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, said it is an honour to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Commission headquarters.

He thanked the Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Peoples Republic of China for their contribution towards the realization of the building complex.

He said the new and modern headquarters will enable the staff of the ECOWAS Commission perform their duties better and provide a suitable working environment.

Lifestyle

ECOWAS Court declares Twitter ban unlawful

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Economic Community of West African States’ Court has declared “unlawful” the suspension of Twitter by the Federal Government.

The court also ordered the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), “never to repeat it again”.

This followed a suit by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and 176 concerned Nigerians, according to SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria following the deletion of Buhari’s tweet.

Then the FG also threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter in the country, while the National Broadcasting Commission asked all broadcast stations to suspend the patronage of Twitter.

But in the judgment delivered on Thursday, the ECOWAS court declared that it has the jurisdiction to hear the case, and that the case was therefore admissible.

The Court also held that the act of suspending the operation of Twitter is unlawful and inconsistent with the provisions of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both of which Nigeria is a state party.

“The Buhari administration in suspending the operations of Twitter violates the rights of SERAP and 176 concerned Nigerians to the enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and the media, as well as the right to a fair hearing,” the court ruled.

The Court also ordered the Buhari’s regime to take necessary steps to align its policies and other measures to give effect to the rights and freedoms and to guarantee a non-repetition of the unlawful ban of Twitter.

The Court also ordered Buhari’s regime to bear the costs of the proceedings and directed the Deputy Chief Registrar to assess the costs accordingly.

Reacting to the judgment, SERAP’s lawyer in the suit, Femi Falana, SAN, said, “We commend the ECOWAS Court for the landmark judgment in the case of SERAP v Federal Republic of Nigeria in which the Judges unanimously upheld the human rights of community citizens to freedom of expression, and access to information.

“Even though the Court had granted an interim order of injunction last year which restrained the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN from prosecuting Nigerians who defied the Twitter ban, SERAP deserves special commendation for pursuing the matter to a logical conclusion.

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and the full enjoyment of this right is central to achieving individual freedom and to developing democracy. It is not only the cornerstone of democracy, but indispensable to a thriving civil society.

“With the latest decision of the Court to declare the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria illegal it is hoped that the Heads of State and Governments of the member states of the Economic Community of West African States will henceforth respect and uphold the human right of the community to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”

Lifestyle

ECOWAS cautions member states on monkeypox

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President, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission, Jean-Claude Brou, has cautioned member states on the spread of  Monkeypox.

He gave the warning while presenting the commission’s report on the implementation of the Community Work Programme at this year’s First Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament, in Abuja.

According to him, the West African Health Organisation, WAHO, is currently monitoring the development of the virus’ outbreak and evolving measures at containing its spread.

He said:“We have 36 confirmed cases of Monkeypox in some member states (I will not mention their names), there are some suspected cases, and two deaths have occurred already.

“Unlike COVID-19, this disease is contracted by close contact with an infected person. The vaccine offers small protection and the medication has an impact.

“WAHO is monitoring the development of the disease to prevent a pandemic, and it is also very important for citizens to be very vigilante, keep an eye on the evolution of the disease.”

Brou expressed satisfaction at the reduction in COVID-19 cases globally, a situation he said had made some countries lift movement restrictions and preventive measures.

He added that it was imperative for ECOWAS citizens to remain vigilant and the governments to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic in addressing other diseases like monkeypox, cholera and lassa fever.

The ECOWAS president said lessons so far learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic would be useful in curbing the spread of monkeypox and listed such lessons to include strengthening health systems and building capacities for local vaccine production,

He said: “Even though we observed improvement through the significant reduction in contamination, we need to continue to be vigilant and keep an eye on this pandemic.

“Compared to December 2021, the numbers have gone down, we have a very significant reduction in the numbers of confirmed cases. This is encouraging but let us remain vigilant.”

‘’You will see that about eight months ago, we had about 23 million doses administered, but today we have 63 million. So there is a significant increase in the numbers of vaccinated persons.

“But let us remain vigilant and draw lessons from pandemics because there will always be pandemics.

“COVID-19 reminds us that we are not sheltered form outbreaks. Let us draw lessons from it band in particular, there are two lessons that we need to learn.

“First, we need to strengthen our health systems and make them more effective, efficient and

capable of responding to difficult situations that can come up at anytime. Besides, we always have risk factors in our region.

“The second lesson is capacity for research and manufacturing of vaccines ,because COVID has shown that we were and still are lagging behind in spite of efforts that are being made to make-up for these lapses.’’

Awaji Abiante, a member of ECOWAS Parliament and Nigerian lawmaker, representing Andoni-Opobi/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers, however, decried the low level of vaccination of citizens.

The  lawmaker, who noted that only 17.20 per cent of West African population had been vaccinated, called for increased vaccination.

Politics

Igboho drags Benin Republic to ECOWAS Court, demands $1m

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Embattled Yoruba Nation activist and freedom fighter, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has dragged the government of Benin Republic to the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanding $1 million as compensation for general damages for each day he has spent in detention in the country.

Filing the suit through one of his lawyers, Tosin Ojaomo, Igboho, asked for a declaration of court that the actions of the West African country regarding his arrest and detention was a violation of his freedom of movement, his right to an unbiased trial within a reasonable time, and violated his right to dignity as a person.

The suit which will be heard at a high court in Benin on Monday, according to Ojaomo, is seeking, among other reliefs, an order for the immediate and unconditional release of Igboho along with his Nigerian passport pending litigation and determination on damages.

“The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the “Banjul Charter”), Articles 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12(1), 12(2), 12(3), and 17(2). Article 3(2)(d)(iii) of the ECOWAS Treaty, Article 2(1) of the ECOWAS Protocol A/P.1/5/79 relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and establishment, upon which Chief Adeyemo sought to escape the persecution by passing through the neighboring Republic of Benin (“Benin”), to take refuge in Germany,” Ojaomo said in a statement on Sunday.

World News

Like ECOWAS, AU suspends Burkina Faso over military coup

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The Peace and Security Council of the African Union has announced the suspension of Burkina Faso from the Union’s activities following the military takeover of the country.

The move came barely 48 hours after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), also suspended the country from the regional bloc following the last week coup where the military sacked the democratically elected government of President Roch Marc Kaboré, who was also arrested and detained.

Burkina Faso is the latest West African country to fall under military rule. In the last two years, there has been three successful military coups in West Africa, involving Guinea, Mali, and most recently, Burkina Faso, which was taken over by soldiers on January 24.

Like the other two countries, the African Union suspended Burkina Faso from all its activities, until “the restoration of constitutional order in the country.

The suspension was announced on Monday by the bloc’s 15-member Peace and Security Council on Twitter

The tweet reads, “Council decides in line w/ the relevant AU instruments (AUConstitutiveAct; AUPSC Protocol; African Charter on Democracy, Elections & Governance), to suspend the participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country ”

See the tweet below:

Politics

MALI: ECOWAS against coups in West Africa – Osinbajo

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Sunday the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would not accept forceful takeovers of governments in the sub-region.

Osinbajo stated this during a media briefing after participating at an Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana.

The Vice-President represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the meeting convened by West African leaders to deliberate on the current political crisis in Mali.

He said: “So, I think what is being done is unprecedented; in the years gone by, African Union, then known as Organisation of African Unity, never came down heavily on coup d’etat.

But it is evident now; there is a very strong resolve that the ECOWAS, and indeed the international community, will not accept unconstitutional takeovers of government in the form of coup d’etat and other such unconstitutional means of taking over governments.

“So, it is very evident that there is a very strong resolve which is why we are here today.”

World News

ECOWAS imposes sanctions on Mali over transition programme delay

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday imposed economic sanctions on Mali over the delay in the country’s transition programme.

The sub-regional body took the decision at its extraordinary summit held in Accra, Ghana.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, ECOWAS described as totally unacceptable the Malian government’s plan to hold elections in 2025.

The member countries insisted that the presidential and parliamentary elections slated for next month must go ahead.

They also agreed to impose sanctions including the closure of land and air borders and suspension of non-essential financial transactions, among others on the landlocked nation with immediate effect.

Mali was thrown into a constitutional crisis in August 2020 following the sack of the country’s President, Ibrahim Keita, in a military coup.

The military junta led by Col. Assimi Goita later detained the President and Prime Minister Boubacar Cisse in a military formation outside the country’s capital, Bamako.

The duo resigned from their positions shortly after their release by the junta.

Backed by ECOWAS, the country put in place an 18-month transition timetable slated to end on September 15 last year.

World News

Mali gives ECOWAS representative 72 hours to leave country

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The Malian government has declared the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Representative, Hamidou Boly, a “persona non grata” and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.

A statement said on Monday the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation invited Boly and informed him about the government’s decision to declare him a persona non grata over actions that were considered “incompatible with his status.”

The statement read: “This decision comes after several warnings addressed to the person concerned through his hierarchy.

“The Malian government reaffirmed its readiness to maintain dialogue with ECOWAS and to work together for the success of the transition.

The Malian authorities took the decision after a United Nations Security Council mission visited the landlocked West African nation on October 23 and October 24 to assess the political situation following the August 2020 coup.

ECOWAS had urged the Malian government to respect the 18 months deadline for the transition programme.

The Ghanaian President, Nana Akuffo-Addo, visited Bamako on October 17 to discuss with the Malian authorities the “evolution” of the transition programme.

Politics

ECOWAS sanctions Guinea, Mali army rulers, insists on transition

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has imposed sanctions including a travel ban and asset freeze on Mali and Guinea’s Army rulers.

The decision was taken by the West African leaders at meeting in, Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, making the sanctions the bloc’s toughest response to a spate of coups in the region.

The ECOWAS sanctions also extend to family members of the junta leaders just the body demanded a quick return to civilian rule in the two countries.

The demand came after a summit of the 15-nation regional group to decide how to respond to the September 5 ouster of Guinean President Alpha Conde, by special forces troops led by Col. Mamady Doumbouya.

At the meeting, the West African leaders also piled more pressure on Mali’s transitional government, demanding they stick to an agreement to organize elections next February.

It announced sanctions on those it said were frustrating efforts for a return to constitutional rule.

In May, Mali junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita staged another coup, deposing a transitional administration in which he was vice president.

He has pledged to stick to the old transition schedule but his government has been accused of dragging its feet on efforts to achieve civilian rule.

Guinea‘s junta was due to hold its last day of consultations on the future of the country in Conakry on Friday.

World News

ECOWAS condemns Guinea coup, demands immediate release of ousted President

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of ousted Guinean President Alpha Condé and other detained persons.

The Guinean military had in the early hours of Sunday captured the President and put him in detention in the capital, Conakry.

The leader of the military junta, Col. Mamady Doumbouya, said the 83-year-old Conde was captured following hours of gunfire in the capital, and warned the people to stay indoors.

The Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Nana Akufo-Addo, in a statement expressed concern at the recent political developments in the West African country.

The statement read: “ECOWAS notes with great concern the recent political developments which occurred in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. She condemns with the greatest firmness this coup attempt on Sunday, September 5, 2021.

“ECOWAS demands respect for the physical integrity of the President of the Republic, the Professor Alpha Condé, and his immediate and unconditional release as well as that of all the personalities arrested

“ECOWAS reaffirms its disapproval of any unconstitutional political change. She asks the defense and security forces to remain in a posture Republican and expresses its solidarity with the Guinean people and Government.”

Politics

ECOWAS Court fixes July 9 for hearing on suits against Twitter ban in Nigeria

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The ECOWAS Court has announced July 9 as the date for the hearing of the coalition of applications against the Twitter Ban instituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The ECOWAS Court stated this in a virtual court sitting held via zoom on Tuesday.

One of the application was brought by the Registered Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) while the other was the application brought by the Media Rights Agenda and eight others.

The lawyer representing the Federal Government, Abdullahi Abubakar, informed the court that he has a motion to consolidate all the four applications before the court on the Twitter ban issue.

Abubakar further implored the court for leave to consolidate the hearing of the applications pending before the court.

The Counsel to SERAP, Femi Falana SAN, did not object to the application.

Falana stated that the application to consolidate will “afford the court the opportunity to give one judgment in the matters that were similar in nature and character”.

The Counsel to Media Rights Agenda, Mojirayo Ogunlaya, also did not object to the application for consolidation.

Consequently, the court noted that it cannot make a consolidation order in their absence and without hearing from them.

Politics

Buhari dragged to ECOWAS court over Twitter ban

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over “the unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

Information and Culture minister, Lai Mohammed last week announced the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria days after the social media platform deleted Buhari’s tweet for violating its rules.

The government has also threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter in the country, while the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has asked all broadcast stations to suspend the patronage of Twitter.

At the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, SERAP and the concerned Nigerians are seeking, “An order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone including media houses, broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria, to harassment, intimidation, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

In the suit filed by the solicitor to SERAP, Femi Falana, the plaintiffs contend that “if this application is not urgently granted, the Federal Government will continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter and threaten to impose criminal and other sanctions on Nigerians, telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and other people using Twitter in Nigeria, the perpetual order sought in this suit might be rendered nugatory.”

The suit read; “The suspension of Twitter is aimed at intimidating and stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and other social media platforms to assess government policies, expose corruption, and criticize acts of official impunity by the agents of the Federal Government.

The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censor or restraints, and to inform public opinion. The public also has a corresponding right to receive media output.

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and the full enjoyment of this right is central to achieving individual freedom and to developing democracy. It is not only the cornerstone of democracy but indispensable to a thriving civil society.

The arbitrary action by the Federal Government and its agents have negatively impacted millions of Nigerians who carry on their daily businesses and operational activities on Twitter. The suspension has also impeded the freedom of expression of millions of Nigerians, who criticize and influence government policies through the microblogging app.

“The suspension of Twitter is arbitrary, and there is no law in Nigeria today permitting the prosecution of people simply for peacefully exercising their human rights through Twitter and other social media platforms.

“The suspension and threat of prosecution by the Federal Government constitute a fundamental breach of the country’s international human rights obligations including under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“The suspension has seriously undermined the ability of Nigerians and other people in the country to freely express themselves in a democracy and undermined the ability of journalists, media houses, broadcast stations, and other people to freely carry out their professional duties.

A lot of Nigerians at home and abroad rely on Twitter coverage of topical issues of public interest to access impartial, objective and critical information about ideas and views on how the Nigerian government is performing its constitutional and international human rights obligations.

“The implication of the decline in freedom of expression in Nigeria is that the country is today ranked alongside countries hostile to human rights and media freedom such as Afghanistan, Chad, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Colombia.”

Politics

SERAP sues Nigerian govt at ECOWAS court

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and twenty-four concerned Nigerians have sued the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja.

The suit is progesting “the arbitrary use of the NBC Act and broadcasting code to target, harass, sanction, and fine independent television and radio stations in Nigeria, and to restrict Nigerians’ freedom of expression and access to information.”

SERAP is asking the ECOWAS Court to declare “illegal and contrary to Nigeria’s international human rights obligations the provisions of the NBC Act and broadcasting code frequently applied by the Federal Government and NBC to target, harass, intimidate, and impose sanctions on independent television and radio stations in the country.”

The suit is coming in the wake of what the group describes as the “‘bridge [breach] letter’ by the NBC asking Channels TV to explain why it interviewed the spokesman of a proscribed organisation; the ban on Jay FM 101.9 Jos for playing songs such as Falz’s ‘This is Nigeria’, Wande Coal’s ‘Iskaba’ and Olamide’s ‘See Mary, See Jesus’; and the N9m fines imposed on Channels TV, AIT and Arise TV [N3m each] over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.”

In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/19/21 and filed last week, the Plaintiffs are arguing that, “The rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom allow Nigerians to seek and attain truth, which is an inherently good activity. These rights also allow Nigerians to participate in representative governance, social and political decision-making, which the Federal Government and NBC are obligated to foster and encourage.”

According to the Plaintiffs: “Attempts to justify restrictions on these fundamental rights and freedom on the overly vague grounds of incitement, morality and subversion of the constituted authority contradict the principles of the universality of human rights. Freedom of Expression is a fundamental human right and cannot be denied without lawful justification.”

The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “the application of the Nigerian Broadcasting Act 1992 and broadcasting code to sanction independent television and radio stations is arbitrary, and has created an environment in which independent media houses are censored, or resort to self-censorship.”

The Plaintiffs state that, “Despite the Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria which guarantees the right to access public records, the Federal Government and its agents and several states of Nigeria have routinely refused to release information sought.”

The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “A lot of Nigerians at home and abroad rely on independent television and radio stations including online on their coverage of topical issues of public interest to access impartial, objective and critical information about ideas and views on how the Federal Government and its agents are performing their constitutional and international human rights obligations.”

The suit was filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi.

Entertainment

ECOWAS court awards N90m in damages to Nigerian Air Force woman tortured, dismissed after superior officer raped her

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The ECOWAS court has delivered judgment in a suit filed by an aircraftwoman who was raped by her superior officer, Flight Lieutenant B. S. Vibelko, and dismissed from the Nigerian Air Force after she lodged a complaint.

The court awarded $200,000 (N90 million) to the applicant (name withheld) on Friday and mandated the Air Force to investigate and prosecute Vibelko for the rape of the victim.

The applicant had accused one of her superiors, Vibelko, of drugging and raping her on May 17, 2011, sued him and the Air Force, Chief of Air Staff, and Attorney-General of the Federation for her unlawful dismissal.

Until her illegal dismissal in 2015, the court held that the applicant was an aircraftwoman in the Nigeria Air Force. She was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on August 15, 2010, with Service No NAF10/25157F. She had put in over five years of active and meritorious service before her persistent victimisation, culminating in her dismissal.

In a judgement delivered on Friday, Justice Dupe Atoki, who read the judgement, described the applicant’s experience as “undeserving of a human being”.

She held that “the brutal rape of the applicant is beastly, undeserving of a human being, and the failure of the Nigerian Air Force to investigate and punish its perpetrator is a show of impunity by the Air Force and the Nigerian authorities.

“The Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian authorities are hereby ordered to arrest, investigate and prosecute the perpetrator… what amount of money is enough to compensate a teenager gruesomely raped by her superiors on her way to womanhood.”

The court further ordered that her dismissal be converted to retirement with attendant benefits. The court ordered that the applicant be paid $200,000 (about N90 million) as compensation and a report of compliance be submitted by the Nigerian authorities within three months of being served notice of judgement.

The Applicant was represented by her counsel, Marshal Abubakar.

The applicant had narrated that she “was sexually assaulted and brutally raped and deflowered by her superior officer in the Nigerian Air force, one Flight Lieutenant B. S Vibelko”.

Attached to the suit were medical reports confirming the rape and breach of virginity.

The Applicant in the suit further narrated that she made a frantic effort to resist the rape but the said Flight Lieutenant B.S. Vibelko overpowered her, hitting her head against the wall several times in the process, after which she eventually fainted while he had his way.

The suit filed by her counsel further stated, “The Applicant avers that subsequent upon the fact deposed to above, on May 18, 2011, at about 12;00hrs. GMT, she woke up to find herself on admission at the accident and emergency ward in 345 Aeromedical Hospital Kaduna.

“The Applicant further avers that as a result, her health suffered greatly, physically and in status and she contacted severe sexually transmitted infections which resulted into chronic pelvic inflammatory disease growing solid mass close to her uterus.

“The Applicant further avers that resulting from the foregoing; she suffered constant intermittent fainting, severe discharge, chronic lower abdominal pains, dizziness and swollen vulva.

The Applicant further avers that her male superiors in the Nigeria Air force rather than investigate and mete out appropriate sanctions subjected her to unprecedented intimidation, victimisation and threat to her life.

“The Applicant avers that she was often locked up in the guardroom for no reason, placed on constant punishment duties constantly accused and put through various degrees of punishment, imprisonment with hard labour, often dragged on the ground and beaten to the point of comatose whilst nude with bruises all over her body.

“The Applicant avers that she received several death threats from several officers of the Nigerian Air Force who threatened to kill her for daring to expose an officer of the Nigerian Air Force for raping her.

The Applicant further avers that a regimental entry was made into her file stating that she should never be promoted with her colleagues up until her unlawful dismissal, which was dutifully carried out. The Applicant avers that she sighted the said regimental entry in the Personnel Management Group (PMG), Sam Ethnan Base, Ikeja, Lagos.”

According to her, from September 28, 2015, to October 1, 2015, she served various unjustifiable rifle punishment ordered by Squadron leader Ilori, the OC provost, “for daring to report the rape incident”.

She said on October 1, 2015, she was diagnosed with severe high fever upon which she was required to report to the hospital but that Squadron Leader Ilori mandated her to stay on at the guard post. But she said shortly after, she suffered severe dehydration, fainted and had to be revived after a quick first aid treatment.

But as soon as she opened her eyes around 8 pm, she was ordered by her superiors to immediately go back to her duty post in line with the established military rule of ‘obey before complaint’, she said.

She narrated how she was also verbally and physically assaulted by one Flight Lieutenant, after which she was detained in a cell for ten days from October 1, 2015 – October 10, 2015, without food.

According to her, she was also later locked up by Squadron Leader Ejiga and was subjected to “severe beating, torture, degrading treatment” in the cell.

She also narrated how she regained consciousness in the hospital after one of the sessions of abuses she suffered, only to find that her hand had been cuffed to the hospital bed.

The applicant had medical reports and photographs of when she looked critically ill to support her claims before the court.

Among other things sought from the court, the applicant had asked for a declaration that the “dismissal of the Applicant as a soldier in the Nigerian Air Force by the Defendant without arraignment, prosecution and sentence by a duly constituted Court Martial is irregular, illegal, unlawful, null and void whatsoever as to the act of the Defendant herein constitute a violation of the Applicant’s Fundamental Rights to fair hearing as stated in the provisions of SECTION 36 (1), (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) Third Alteration Act, Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Articles 8, 10, 11 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.

It sought an order of the court to compel the “Defendant, its agents, organs, servants, privies or by whatever name called to pay over to the Applicant her monthly salary and other allowances from the month such sum is last paid until the date judgment is enforced in this suit”.

It also sought an order directing the “Defendant, their agents, organs, privies, servants or by whatever name called to pay over to the Applicant the sum of $10 000 000. 00 (about N4.5 billion) only as general damages for the physical, psychological and mental torture suffered by the Applicant due to the various human rights violations she was subjected to by the defendant.

An order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant, its agents, organs, servants, privies or by whatever name called to pay over to the Applicant the sum of $20, 000,000.00 (about N9 billion) only as aggravated and punitive damages that will serve as a deterrent to the defendant.

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the defendant to pay over to the Applicant the sum of $500 000.00 (about N225 million) only being the solicitor’s fees and other incidental costs.

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant, its agents, organs, servants, privies or by whatever name called to immediately reinstate the Applicant to the rank her contemporaries in the Nigeria Air force currently occupies,” the document stated.

Politics

#EndSARS: ECOWAS Urges Security Agencies to Exercise Restraint

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The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has expressed concern over the protest against police brutality by the Nigeria youth that have turned violent.

To this end, it called on the federal government to conduct investigation into the misconduct of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) rapidly.

The President of the Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Brou, stated this in a statement issued Wednesday, while also calling security operatives to exercise restraint in the handling of the protests and act professionally.

He stated: “ECOWAS Commission notes with concern that demonstrations by Nigerian youth calling for police reform, particularly the abolition of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, accused of misconduct by those demonstrating, have turned violent.

“While ECOWAS Commission recognizes the rights of citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protests, it is also of the view that those rights should be exercised in a non-violent manner. In this regard, ECOWAS Commission calls on all protesters to remain peaceful in the conduct of their demonstrations. It also urges the Nigerian security operatives to exercise restraint In the handling of the protests and act professionally.

“ECOWAS Commission further notes that in an effort to address the demands of the protesting youth, the federal government of Nigeria took important decisions regarding disbandment ot SARS, comprehensive police reforms and investigation of cases of police brutality. It encourages the Nigerian Authorities to conduct the investigation rapidly.”

The Commission expressed its condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives during the protests and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The commission appealed to the federal government, the Nigerian youth and the civil society to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social urest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion at law and order.

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