Withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Official Effective After A Year Notice

By: Michael Mike

The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States has become officially effective today after the expiration of the mandatory one year notice.

Though the regional bloc has official acknowledged the exiting of the trio, it said it has not kept its doors fully shut by allowing the former members to enjoy some membership benefits.

A statement by ECOWAS Commission on Wednesday read: “The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025. However, in the spirit of regional solidarity and in the interest of the people, as well as the decision of the ECOWAS Authority to keep ECOWAS’ doors open, all relevant
authorities within and outside ECOWAS Member States are requested and
required to:

“a) recognize National passports and identity cards bearing ECOWAS logo
held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic
of Niger, until further notice.

“b) continue to treat goods and services coming from the three countries in
accordance with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and
investment policy.

“c) allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of
visa free movement, residence and establishment in accordance with the
ECOWAS protocols until further notice.

“d) provide full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three
countries in the course of their assignments for the Community.”

ECOWAS said: “These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the
modalities of our future engagement with the three countries by the ECOWAS
Authority of Heads of State and Government. The Commission has set up a
structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three
countries. This message is necessary to avoid confusion and disruption in the
lives and businesses of our people during this transition period.”.

Withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Official Effective After A Year Notice

Bago Calls for Governors Support in Tackling Human Trafficking, Violence Against Persons

By: Michael Mike

The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago has called on State Governors across the country to join hands with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to tackle the issues of human trafficking and violence against persons in the country.

Bago, while observing that the phenomenon of human trafficking and violence against persons are issues of serious concern that require the collective support and collaboration of all state and non-state actors across the sub-national levels of government, said: “The focus on violence in persons and also trafficking in persons is very important, especially in Northern Nigeria.”

The governor who paid host ti the Management of NAPTIP led by the Director General, Binta Bello at the Niger State Liaison Office, Abuja, on Tuesday, said: “We have a lot of out-of-school children especially girls and also a lot of domestic violence issues arising from that. We also have issues of violence against women as a fallout of the insecurity in the region.”

The Director General had visited the Governor as part of her strategic engagement with critical stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.

Bago said: “There is the need for the government at the sub-national especially the northern Nigeria, to collaborate with NAPTIP to effectively address these issues.”

The governor while lauding the achievements of the Director General within the short time of her appointment, announced robust support including land for the immediate take-off of the Niger State Command of NAPTIP.

He said: “We shall give you a land with Certificate of Occupancy for the establishment of the Niger State Command and we want this project to start immediately. If you have the personnel ready, we can also get you temporary accommodation so that you can open the Command in February. We are also ready to accommodate and provide support for you to establish NAPTIP Regional Command Office in Niger State. We are very ambitious to have the Northern Command of this very important agency.”

Earlier in her speech, Binta Bello, who briefed the Governor on the establishment and mandates of the agency, stated that “our presence in Niger State is paramount to executing our mandates effectively. It is to enable us to work closely with the State authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders.

“Also, our desire to have a presence in your State is due to several cases of child trafficking, Child labour, and domestic servitude that we received across sub-national levels which include Niger State”.
She appreciated the response and the immediate promise of support for the establishment of the Niger State Command and urged other State Governments to emulate the gesture of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.

Bago Calls for Governors Support in Tackling Human Trafficking, Violence Against Persons

DCP Lough denies falsifying police records, demands retraction

By: Michael Mike

The Head of Chambers, Legal Section of the Nigeria Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Lough has denied the allegation of backdating his police records to delay his retirement levelled against him by a civil society group, The Integrity Youth Alliance.

Lough, subsequently demanded a retraction of the libellous report published by Trojan Insight News and Sahara Reporters Media Group.

This was contained in a letter dated January 24, 2025, written by his lawyer, Adeleke Agboola, SAN, and addressed to The Integrity Youth Alliance, Trojan Insight News and Sahara Reporters.

The letter partly read, “We are instructed by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, the first police officer in Nigeria elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2021, and we have his instructions to write this letter.

‘’our client’s attention has been drawn to the above-referenced story which has been published by different online media houses, like the TROJAN INSIGHT which tagged the defamatory statement thus:“SIMON LOUGH, NIGERIA POLICE LEGAL HEAD, OTHERS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BACKDATING RECORDS TO DELAY RETIREMENT.

“Published online on the 19th January 2025 via https:/trojaninsights.com/simon-lough-nigeria-police-legal-head-others: under-investigation-for-backdating-records-to-delay-retirement.

“The Sahara Reporters also headlined the defamatory statement as: ‘Simon Lough, Nigeria Police Legal Head, Others Under Investigation For Backdating records To Delay Retirement’ via https://saharareporters.com/2025/01/19/simon-lough-nigeria-police-legal-head-others-under-investigation-backdating-records.

‘’It is our client’s express instruction that the above-captioned story as it relates to him at the material time is false. Our client was born on 14th May 1969 and joined the Police as a Cadet ASP on the 10th of May, 2000.

“Our client was never enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on January 8, 1987, and therefore could not have retired on January 8, 2022, as maliciously published by you, with the intention to besmirch his reputation.

“You published the defamatory and injurious story against our client without seeking his side of the story in accordance with the media principle and ethical responsibility of news balancing.

‘’Thus, DCP Simon Lough has requested a retraction of the defamatory statement made against him wherein he was listed among the police personnel engaged in the unethical practice of backdating their history records.’’

DCP Lough denies falsifying police records, demands retraction