London-Based EIA Signs MOU with ICPC to Tackle Environmental Crime in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has signed an historic agreement with Nigeria’s leading agency responsible for tackling corruption in the public sector, recognising the need for increased transparency and accountability to address environmental crime.

A statement on Thursday by EIA, said on Friday 20 September, Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC), and Justin Gosling, EIA’s Securing Criminal Justice Programme Lead, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) opening the door for increased cooperation and information sharing between the respective organisations.

Aliyu recognised the importance of addressing corruption within the field of environmental crime, stating: “Environmental crimes such as wildlife trafficking, pollution and those contributing to climate change pose a major threat to Nigerians.

“The role of public sector corruption is unacceptable and the ICPC looks forward to cooperating with the EIA to improve our response to this important area of criminal activity.”

EIA has been working for almost five years in Nigeria and in West and Central Africa, developing the capacitor of investigators, raising awareness and understanding among prosecutors and the judiciary, forging relationships with the public and private financial sectors and assessing and developing new endangered species legislation, in addition to supporting civil society organisations in the region.

Gosling said the new partnership was critical to evolving the response to environmental crime in the region.

He said: “Environmental criminal networks are driven by profit and financial gain and the role of corruption in public sectors cannot be underestimated,” he said. “We welcome this groundbreaking agreement with the ICPC and look forward to developing strategies together to address wildlife trafficking and other forms of environmental crime.”

EIA’s projects in West and Central Africa are supported by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Defra Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the Pangolin Crisis Fund and the Full Circle Foundation.

EIA investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crime, with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil.

It works to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution, bycatch and commercial exploitation of whales, dolphins and porpoises, works to avert climate catastrophe by strengthening and enforcing regional and international agreements that tackle short-lived climate super-pollutants, including ozone-depleting substances, hydrofluorocarbons and methane, and advocating corporate and policy measures to promote transition to a sustainable cooling sector and away from fossil fuels.

It uses its findings in hard-hitting reports to campaign for new legislation, improved governance and more effective enforcement. Its field experience is used to provide guidance to enforcement agencies and it forms partnerships with local groups and activists and support their work through hands-on training.

London-Based EIA Signs MOU with ICPC to Tackle Environmental Crime in Nigeria

ECOWAS Parliament Expresses Worries Over Obstinance of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger to Rejoin Regional Bloc

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has again expressed worries over the seeming reluctance of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to return to ECOWAS despite the many entreaties of leaders of the regional bloc.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, disclosed this during the induction training for members of the 6th Legislature at the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar of the legislative body in Lome, Togo on Wednesday.

The Speaker noted that the countries, which announced their exit from the 15-member ECOWAS in January 2024, following disagreements over military takeover of governments in the three countries, have not responded to calls for their return to the region’s most important organisation.

“We have taken a lot of initiatives at the level of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Council of Ministers and at all levels. We have written to the three countries but they have not responded.”

She however said despite this, West African leaders will continue to reach out to them for reconciliation.

A member of the Parliament, Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama from Sierra Leone had raised concerns over the continued absence of the three countries and the implications for the citizens of the countries, calling for more efforts to reconcile with the estranged countries and bring them back.

ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on the three countries after the military takeover but had gone a step further, threatening military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.

This initiated camaraderie in the three countries who subsequently pulled out from the regional bloc, forming instead confederation of Sahel states.

The leaders of the three countries had announced at a Summit early this year, that: “This summit marks a decisive step for the future of our common space. Together, we will consolidate the foundations of our true independence, a guarantee of true peace and sustainable development through the creation of the ‘Alliance of Sahel States’ Confederation,’” Capt. Ibrahim Traore, the leader of Burkina Faso, wrote on X.

“The AES (Alliance of Sahel States) is full of enormous natural potential which, if properly exploited, will guarantee a better future for the people of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso,” Traore added.

Earlier this September, the three leaders said they will introduce new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from ECOWAS in favour of a new Sahel alliance.

Also in September Burkina Faso had threatened to launch new passports without the ECOWAS logo.

“In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world”, Malian junta leader Assimi Goita had announced .

ECOWAS Parliament Expresses Worries Over Obstinance of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger to Rejoin Regional Bloc

Criminal Justice: AGF, Other Stakeholders Gather for Inauguration of NWC on National Minimum Standards for ACJA

By: Michael Mike

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alongside key stakeholders including the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Adam Oaigwe (SAN), and the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, have convened in Abuja for the inauguration of the National Working Committee on National Minimum Standards for the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC).

This significant event, organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), will span three days from September 24-26, 2024.

Mr. Badejogbin Oluwatoyin, Project Manager of Component 1 – Criminal Justice Reform under the RoLAC II Programme, highlighted the objectives of the event in a statement. He noted that the primary goal is to establish a National Working Group of stakeholders to review and validate the National Minimum Standards for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

“The summit will support the adoption of national minimum standards for the implementation of the ACJA/ACJL, develop strategies for increasing awareness about the ACJA/ACJL, and identify key ACJA/ACJL-related documents for translation, printing, and dissemination,” the statement read.

Deliverables from the event include National Minimum Standards for the Implementation of ACJA, 2015; strategies for raising awareness of ACJA/ACJL among the general population; and a list of key legal documents related to ACJLs for translation into various local languages and printing. 

This, according to the statement, ensures that legal information is accessible to a broader segment of the population, fostering greater understanding and compliance with the laws.

The RoLAC Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA in Nigeria, aims to consolidate the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms across the Federal Capital Territory and selected states: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, Lagos, and Plateau. A key component of the programme focuses on enhancing the performance, quality, and oversight of the criminal justice system and justice service delivery.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), enacted in 2015, marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s criminal justice administration. Lagos and Anambra had earlier enacted their own Administration of Criminal Justice Laws, setting a precedent for other states to follow. While the ACJA has achieved considerable success, gaps and weaknesses have necessitated the development of national minimum standards for its implementation.

About International IDEA

International IDEA is the implementer of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union. The RoLAC II Programme aims to enhance the performance, quality, and oversight of the criminal justice system and justice service delivery in Nigeria. The programme promotes transparency, accountability, and effectiveness within the justice sector. Building on the achievements of the previous RoLAC I Programme, RoLAC II aligns with the objectives of the EU–Federal Republic of Nigeria Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2022-2027. It aims to further consolidate the justice sector and anti-corruption reforms, reduce gender-based violence, and promote respect for human rights.

Criminal Justice: AGF, Other Stakeholders Gather for Inauguration of NWC on National Minimum Standards for ACJA