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ECOWAS Court Orders Guinea to Pay Compensation for Violation of Citizen’s Right of Life and Integrity
ECOWAS Court Orders Guinea to Pay Compensation for Violation of Citizen’s Right of Life and Integrity
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of justice has ordered the State of Guinea to pay 269,000,000 Guinean Francs as compensation for emotional harm for the violation of the right to life and integrity to the Applicant whose son was fatally injured during a protest in Labe in Guinea.
The Court also ordered that the Respondent pays the Applicant 44.000, 000 as damages in the same currency.
Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Judge Rapporteur, delivered the judgment on Monday on behalf of the Panel which held that the Respondent had violated the fundamental right of the Applicant under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and other fundamental human rights treaties.
The Applicant, Mamadou Mouctar Balde, had filed a claim before the Court alleging the violation of his son Amadou Balde’s right to life. He averred that the son died from a fatal injury sustained during a riot at the University of Labe, where the Respondent’s agents were maintaining law and order. The Applicant asserted that the Respondent acknowledged the death of his son but failed to fulfill its obligations under international law. In view of these claims, Applicant sought for a declaration of violation under Article 4 of the ACHPR, along with monetary compensation and costs.
The Respondent acknowledged that the death of the Applicant’s son but denied responsibility, claiming its agents had a lawful mandate. It averred that an investigation was initiated and prosecution followed but was halted after a fire incident at the Court of First Instance in Labé, destroying case documents. The Respondent argued that it has made efforts to reconstruct the file since this incidence. It contended that it has not violated the Applicant’s human rights and requested that the Court declare the application inadmissible in form, and on the merit, dismiss the claim for lack of evidence.
It prayed for costs in cause.
The Court cited that the issue of a death was not contended rather the contention was whether a violation had occurred and the responsibility of the Respondent in this instance. The Court emphazed that states have a duty to safeguard the right to life during protests. Consequently, it concluded that Amadou Balde’s death in the Labe protest constitutes a violation under Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights.
The Court also found that the Respondent’s claim of lack of documents to continue the trial after the fire incident unacceptable, as there is no evidence supporting this assertion. The Court held that, based on the available facts and evidence, the Respondent failed in its obligation under Article 1 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights. This is due to the fact that the act of the violation of the right to life is attributable to the Respondent.
The Court therefore made orders that the Respondent pays Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million Guinean Francs (269,000,000 GNF) as compensation for emotional harm and Forty- Four Million Guinean Francs (44,000,000 GNF) as damages to the Applicant.
The Panel also consisted of Hon. Justice Gbéri-bè Ouattara, presiding and Dupe Atoki (Member).
ECOWAS Court Orders Guinea to Pay Compensation for Violation of Citizen’s Right of Life and Integrity
Foiled kidnap attempt on police couple, cleric in Abuja — suspects escape with bullet wounds
By: Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have foiled an attempted kidnapping of two police officers and a cleric in Abuja.
The officers DSP Gabriel Tanko, attached to the Force Intelligence Department, and his wife, Mrs. Jummai Tanko, serving at Zone 7 Headquarters were targeted by suspected bandits who attempted to invade their residence at Aco Phase 2 along GAU Road in the early hours of Monday.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred between 12:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 10 after intelligence indicated that the armed group had concluded plans to abduct the couple.
Acting on the intelligence, the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led a tactical team to lay an ambush around the hilly terrain behind the targeted residence.
“At about 1:02 a.m., the hoodlums, numbering several, approached the house,” the police source said. A gun battle ensued and lasted about 15 minutes. The team overpowered the suspects who fled with possible bullet injuries,” the source added.
Police recovered one AK-47 magazine loaded with 15 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition at the scene.
The couple was immediately evacuated to a safe location, while residents of the neighbourhood who panicked during the exchange of gunfire were reassured of their safety.
The FCT Police Command also reinforced security around the residence of a cleric near ECWA Church in the same axis, which was believed to be among potential targets.
Follow-up patrols are being conducted in collaboration with hunters, vigilantes and other security operatives.
Residents and medical facilities have been advised to report anyone found with bullet wounds to the nearest police station.
The police said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects.
Foiled kidnap attempt on police couple, cleric in Abuja — suspects escape with bullet wounds
Kidnappers abduct young man in Abuja estate, shoot fiancée
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have abducted a young man during an attack on a private residence at Leisure Court Phase 1 Estate, located under Aco Division in Abuja.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at about 12:01 a.m., when the attackers gained access into the residence of Mr. Olusoji Litan on Mike Ekere Street.
Sources said the gunmen kidnapped Mr. Litan’s son, Oladeji Emmanuel, who had just arrived Abuja to visit his parents on Friday, Nov. 9.
During the attack, Emmanuel’s fiancée, identified as Amanda, sustained gunshot injuries on both thighs.
Following a distress call received at about 12:25 a.m. from the Chief Security Officer of the estate, police patrol teams, working with hunters and vigilantes, were deployed to the scene.
Three expended 7.62mm ammunition shells were recovered from the compound.
Amanda was immediately evacuated to Lawrence Margaret Teaching Hospital, River Park Estate, where she is receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.
Sources said efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing kidnappers and rescue the victim.
The case is being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
Kidnappers abduct young man in Abuja estate, shoot fiancée
Eight police officers hospitalised in Kogi, others discharged lone accident
By: Zagazola Makama
Eight police officers deployed from Kogi State to Anambra for the upcoming 2025 governorship election are currently receiving medical treatment following a lone accident involving their vehicle along a highway in Kogi.
The accident, which occurred earlier on Monday, involved personnel of the Kogi State Police Command assigned as part of the security contingent for the election in Anambra.
Sources said that the injured officers Insp. George Nkoyo, Insp. Edith Kechere, Insp. Bright Emmanuel, Insp. Ogudele Adeola, Insp. Ibrahim Fatima, Insp. James Ifeoma, Insp. Dansuma Hassan and Insp. Hope Samuel is currently on admission at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
Sources said the officers are responding to treatment and are in stable condition.
The sources added that several others who sustained minor injuries have been treated and discharged. Those discharged include Insp. Abdullahi Mariam, Insp. Amodu Latama, Insp. Ameh John, Insp. Christina Shiaka, Insp. Owonari Kuriyatu, Sgt. Ochogwu Godwill, Cpl. Joy Akanya and PC Joy Samuel.
“The Command is monitoring the situation closely, and further developments will be communicated,” the sources stated.
The sources reaffirmed the commitment of the Kogi Police Command to ensuring adequate security deployment to Anambra State for the forthcoming election.
Eight police officers hospitalised in Kogi, others discharged lone accident
Foiled kidnap attempt on police couple, cleric in Abuja — suspects escape with bullet wounds
Kidnappers abduct young man in Abuja estate, shoot fiancée
Eight police officers hospitalised in Kogi, others discharged lone accident
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