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ECOWAS Court rules unlawful, the dismissal of a staff of ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Momodu Khalipha Cham
ECOWAS Court rules unlawful, the dismissal of a staff of ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Momodu Khalipha Cham
By: Michael Mike
The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, on July 10, 2024, declared that the dismissal of Mr. Momodu Cham, a former staff of the ECOWAS Commission was unlawful and not in compliance with Article 69 of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations.
The applicant, Mr. Momodu Khalipha Cham, a community citizen residing in Banjul, Republic of Gambia, filed an application, against ECOWAS Commission and its president respectively the first and second Respondents, challenging his unlawful suspension and subsequent dismissal from his position as a Procurement Officer with the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (GIABA), a specialised agency of ECOWAS.
Justice Dupe Atoki, the Judge Rapporteur who delivered the judgment said that the cessation of Mr. Cham’s salary before the exhaustion of the appeal process was arbitrary, unlawful, null, and void, contrary to Article 73(b) of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations. However, the judge said that the Court declined the orders for mandatory injunctions and reinstatement.
In regard to compensation, the Court ordered the Respondents to pay Mr. Cham his salary arrears and other entitlements from January 2021 to June 2021. Additionally, it ordered the payment of Mr. Cham’s salaries and emoluments from July to December 2021 as compensation for the unlawful dismissal.
In this case, the Applicant narrated that Mr. Cham was suspended on July 11, 2019, following a forensic audit report by Ernst and Young UK, which implicated him in irregularities related to the purchase of IT equipment for GIABA. He said that on January 26, 2021, Mr. Cham was summarily dismissed, and his salaries and emoluments were withheld in violation of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations. Mr. Cham sought several reliefs, including the Declaration that his dismissal was arbitrary, null, and void; an Order setting aside his dismissal; an Order for the immediate payment of his salary arrears and other entitlements from January 2021. The applicant also asked for his reinstatement to his position as a Procurement Officer and compensation for costs incurred in prosecuting the suit.
The Respondents, in their defense, maintained that Mr. Cham was properly suspended and dismissed following a forensic audit report and a subsequent query. They argued that the dismissal was appropriate due to allegations of gross misconduct, embezzlement, theft, fraud, and abuse of trust.
In its judgment, the Court determined that requesting an on-the-spot response to charges without prior notice or an opportunity to prepare a defense violates procedural safeguards outlined in the ECOWAS Staff Regulations. Consequently, the summary dismissal of the Applicant by the 2nd Respondent breached Article 69 of the regulation.
Additionally, the Court emphasised that the regulations are designed to ensure an Applicant’s rights are fully maintained until the Council’s final decision. Therefore, the cessation of the Applicant’s salary and other emoluments after invoking the right of appeal is a violation of Article 73(b) of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations.
Also on the three-member panel were Honourable Justices Gberi-bè Ouattara, presiding, and Sengu Mohamed Koroma, member.
ECOWAS Court rules unlawful, the dismissal of a staff of ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Momodu Khalipha Cham
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
By: Our Reporter
Judge bars him from inciting public, undermining national security
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned a politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for alleged cybercrimes, with the court barring him from further making statements that are detrimental to the peace and security of the country.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling, threatened to revoke the bail granted Sowore’ should he ever make such statements. The arraignment came after two previous attempts, with the politician’s lawyer introducing what the DSS lawyer, Akinolu Kehinde SAN, called legal obstacles.
On Tuesday, however, Justice Umar held that since there was evidence that Sowore was a presidential candidate in the country before and having also earlier been granted bail by the court, with his international passport still being held by the court, he was entitled to be granted bail on self-recognition.
The ruling was on a bail application argued by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, shortly after Sowore was arraigned on a five-count charge, in which he is accused of defaming President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in his posts on X and Facebook.
When the charge, being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), was read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty.
In the charge, Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, is accused of contravening the provisions of the the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act by calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal
The two other defendants listed in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.
Details shortly.
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
News
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have carried out a series of coordinated attacks across parts of Zamfara State, killing one person and abducting several others in Zurmi and Bungudu Local Government Areas, security sources have confirmed.
In the first incident, bandits invaded Tungar Tsamiya village in Moriki District of Zurmi LGA at about 10:40 p.m. on Nov. 30, shooting dead one resident and abducting 10 others.
Security forces launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate the victims.
Barely hours later, on Monday morning, another group of bandits attacked Doguwar Gona forest in the same Moriki District.
The assailants abducted 17 men and women who were in the area fetching firewood. Security personnel are tracking the movement of the attackers with the aim of rescuing the captives.
In a separate incident in Bungudu LGA, gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed Makwa village in Kurar Mota District at about 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 1 and abducted an unconfirmed number of residents.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and police operatives, supported by local vigilante groups, have intensified efforts to rescue all abducted victims and restore calm across the affected communities.
Search operations are ongoing.
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren
By: Zagazola Makama
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday paid a sympathy visit to the Bishop of Kontagora, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, following the recent abduction of students of St. Mary Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The NSA, who arrived Kontagora by helicopter at about noon, was accompanied by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Tony Ajayi; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs; and senior officials from the Office of the NSA.
Ribadu and his entourage proceeded to the office of the Bishop at St. Michael Church, where they met with representatives of families of the abducted students, the school principal, and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern States, Bishop Joseph Hayap.
During the meeting, the NSA assured the community that the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted pupils and staff.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending attacks on schools and ensuring the safety of students across the country.
NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren
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