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COURT DISMISSES CLAIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST GUINEA, AMID CLAIMS OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
COURT DISMISSES CLAIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST GUINEA, AMID CLAIMS OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed a case brought by a Guinean alleging violation of his rights to fair, impartial and independent court proceedings by the State of Guinea.
In its judgment delivered by Hon Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Judge Rapporteur, the Court affirmed it had jurisdiction to hear the case and declared the application admissible. However, it held that the Applicant – Mr Souleymane Bah’s rights were not violated as claimed.
In addition, the Court dismissed the preliminary objection of the Respondent – State of Guinea challenging the admissibility of the case before the Court as well as Mr Bah’s application to compel a witness to testify before the Court. It also dismissed all other reliefs and claims sought by both parties, and ordered Mr Bah to pay a symbolic cost of 10,000 CFA Francs to the State of Guinea.
In the case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/24/19, filed on 3 June 2019, Mr Bah claimed the violation of his rights to fair, impartial and independent tribunal as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (ACHPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Mr Bah, who was represented by his lawyer – Mr. Alpha Yaya Drame, told the Court that a partial Order was issued against him under his nickname “Thia’nguel” but that he was neither notified of the allegations against him nor was he given an opportunity to respond to the same. He also told the Court that he learnt of his conviction to life sentence from the press.
He averred that he was tried in absentia which contravenes the provisions of the Guinean Code of Criminal Procedure and asked the Court to order the State of Guinea to, inter alia, pay him general and economic damages as his conviction has equally affected his contract with an international organisation.
On its part, the Respondent – State of Guinea represented by Mr. Joachim Gbilimou, denied Mr. Bah’s claims adding that Judgment No 03 of 9th January 2018 involving Thia’nguel was not the same person as Mr. Souleymane Bah and that Thia’nguel was never identified as Mr. Bah during the trial.
He further argued that Mr. Bah should have opposed the decision of the national court if he felt he was the same person, and moreover, the nickname was not indicated as a party to any contract with an international organisation as claimed. The Respondent therefore asked the Court to dismiss all the claims of Mr. Bah and award costs in its favour.
Concerning Mr Bah’s request for the Court to compel the Attorney-General of Guinea to give evidence before the Court, the Court noted that the facts and evidence before it did not establish a connection between Mr. Bah, the indictment and or the said judgment from the national court, and therefore dismissed his application.
However, the Court ordered the Guinean government to refrain from arresting or detaining Mr. Souleymane Bah in relation to Judgment No 3 of 9th January, 2018, following the government’s earlier submission that “the criminal Judgment n° 03 of 09/01/2018 of the Tribunal of First instance of Dixinn did not target Mr Souleymane BAH”.
The Court dismissed all other claims after noting that ‘the so-called Thia’nguel was never formally identified at any of the judicial stages’ and therefore Mr. Bah cannot claim his rights were violated because he was neither served any notice of action, nor given opportunity to defend himself, and he could not have appealed or challenge the default judgment of the national court as Mr. Souleymane Bah.
Furthermore, Judgment no 03 of 9th January 2018, could not have caused Mr Bah, the termination of his contract because the agreement between the parties allowed for the possibility of non-renewal of the said contract.
The Court also dismissed Mr. Bah’s claim for compensation on the grounds that media report which is not a usual channel of court communication cannot be taken as a court process.
It awarded a symbolic 10,000 CFA Francs as cost in favour of the State of Guinea.
Also on the three-member panel were Honourable Justices Gbéri-Bè Ouattara(presiding) and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves (member).
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed a case brought by a Guinean alleging violation of his rights to fair, impartial and independent court proceedings by the State of Guinea.
In its judgment on Monday delivered by Hon Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Judge Rapporteur, the Court affirmed it had jurisdiction to hear the case and declared the application admissible. However, it held that the Applicant – Mr Souleymane Bah’s rights were not violated as claimed.
In addition, the Court dismissed the preliminary objection of the Respondent – State of Guinea challenging the admissibility of the case before the Court as well as Mr Bah’s application to compel a witness to testify before the Court. It also dismissed all other reliefs and claims sought by both parties, and ordered Mr Bah to pay a symbolic cost of 10,000 CFA Francs to the State of Guinea.
In the case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/24/19, filed on 3 June 2019, Mr Bah claimed the violation of his rights to fair, impartial and independent tribunal as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (ACHPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Bah, who was represented by his lawyer – Mr. Alpha Yaya Drame, told the Court that a partial Order was issued against him under his nickname “Thia’nguel” but that he was neither notified of the allegations against him nor was he given an opportunity to respond to the same.
He also told the Court that he learnt of his conviction to life sentence from the press.
He averred that he was tried in absentia which contravenes the provisions of the Guinean Code of Criminal Procedure and asked the Court to order the State of Guinea to, inter alia, pay him general and economic damages as his conviction has equally affected his contract with an international organisation.
On its part, the Respondent – State of Guinea represented by Mr. Joachim Gbilimou, denied Mr. Bah’s claims adding that Judgment No 03 of 9th January 2018 involving Thia’nguel was not the same person as Mr. Souleymane Bah and that Thia’nguel was never identified as Mr. Bah during the trial.
He further argued that Bah should have opposed the decision of the national court if he felt he was the same person, and moreover, the nickname was not indicated as a party to any contract with an international organisation as claimed. The Respondent therefore asked the Court to dismiss all the claims of Bah and award costs in its favour.
Concerning Bah’s request for the Court to compel the Attorney-General of Guinea to give evidence before the Court, the Court noted that the facts and evidence before it did not establish a connection between Mr. Bah, the indictment and or the said judgment from the national court, and therefore dismissed his application.
However, the Court ordered the Guinean government to refrain from arresting or detaining Mr. Souleymane Bah in relation to Judgment No 3 of 9th January, 2018, following the government’s earlier submission that “the criminal Judgment n° 03 of 09/01/2018 of the Tribunal of First instance of Dixinn did not target Mr Souleymane BAH”.
The Court dismissed all other claims after noting that ‘the so-called Thia’nguel was never formally identified at any of the judicial stages’ and therefore Mr. Bah cannot claim his rights were violated because he was neither served any notice of action, nor given opportunity to defend himself, and he could not have appealed or challenge the default judgment of the national court as Mr. Souleymane Bah.
Furthermore, Judgment no 03 of 9th January 2018, could not have caused Mr Bah, the termination of his contract because the agreement between the parties allowed for the possibility of non-renewal of the said contract.
The Court also dismissed Mr. Bah’s claim for compensation on the grounds that media report which is not a usual channel of court communication cannot be taken as a court process.
It awarded a symbolic 10,000 CFA Francs as cost in favour of the State of Guinea.
Also on the three-member panel were Honourable Justices Gbéri-Bè Ouattara(presiding) and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves (member).
COURT DISMISSES CLAIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST GUINEA, AMID CLAIMS OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
NESREA Seals 29 Facilities in South West for Violation of Environmental Laws
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor on has made good his promise to residents of Ogijo, a community in Ogun State, as the agency sealed nube recycling facilities for environmental pollution.
The ongoing enforcement exercise in the South West Zone of the country has also seen the sealing of 20 other facilities in Ekiti, Osun and Ogun States.
Barikor said the enforcement exercise is in line with the mandate of the NESREA, which gives the agency the responsibility of prohibiting activities and processes which undermine environmental quality.
He noted that it had become expedient to take drastic action against non-compliant recyclers in Ogijo community in Ogun State as their operations have continued to endanger the environment and lives of the citizens.
Barikor said: “The situation in Ogijo has been of concern due to the harmful activities of battery and scrap metal recyclers. Improper disposal of hazardous slag from battery recycling threatens environmental degradation and public health risks from toxic lead content. Tests have revealed presence of lead in residents, resulting in illnesses and deaths.”
He stated that the failure of the facilities to adopt best available technology in their operations was in contravention of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024.
Barikor noted that: “There have been several stakeholders intervention which involved Federal and State Ministries of Environment, NESREA, State Environmental Protection Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and development partners in a bid to get the facilities to upgrade their operations to more environmental friendly technology and institute sustainable plan for management of slag and other waste from their processes but a recent tour of the community revealed total disregard for environmental laws of the land, a clear signal that some of these facilities do not have any intention of complying and their continued operation is a big threat to the health of residents and the environment in which they live.”
He stressed that the sealing of the facilities was therefore to protect the lives of vulnerable citizens and put a stop to the operations of the recycling facilities that undermine the law and expose Nigerians to danger.
He disclosed that: “These facilities were closed for violating the provisions of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations, 2024. Their offences include lack of Environmental Documents such as Environmental Audit Report (EAR), Environmental Impact Statement, Permits; Lack of Fume treatment plant; indiscriminate discharge of black oil; failure to carry out blood-lead test on staff; no proper slag management, manual battery breaking and washing and non-compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme.”
The Facilities sealed in Ogijo, Ogun State were: Vedanta Metal Industries Limited; Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Limited; African Non-Ferrous Limited; True Metals Nigeria Limited; BPL Nigeria Limited, Lagos Ibadan Express Way; Hanushi Manufacturing Limited , Lagos Ibadan Express Way; Pristine Elt. Pvt. Limited; Timto Alu Company Limited; and Ecomade Industries Limited.
Enforcement was also carried out in the construction and quarry sectors where a total of 10 sites were sealed for lack of Environmental Documents contrary to the provisions of the National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations, 2011 and the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) 2013 respectively
In the Domestic and Industrial Plastic sector, Five facilities were shutdown for operating in flagrant disregard for the National Environmental (Domestic and Industrial Plastic, Rubber and Foam Sector) Regulations 2011. They operated without Environmental documents, lack of fume abatement technology, non-submission of Quarterly Compliance Monitoring Report
One (1) facility, GS Agriculture Limited, Osogbo, Osun State was sealed for violating the he National Environmental (Food, Beverages and Tobacco. Sector) Regulations 2009. The facility was faulted for not having the necessary Environmental Documents.
In the Non-Metallic Mineral Manufacturing sector, One (1) facility, West Stone and Marble Processing Company Limited Ikirun, Osun State was sealed for Non Submission of Environmental Audit Report (EAR).
For refusal to comply with the National Environmental (Motor Vehicle and Miscellaneous Assembly) Regulations 2011, One (1) facility, Icheetah Nigeria Limited , Abeokuta was shutdown.
Enforcement of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011 led to the sealing of One (1) facility, Solomon Kensington Agro Allied, Iperu- Remo in Ogun State. The operators failed to provide relevant Environmental documents, install and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), refused to provide the Agency with comprehensive list of animal species being kept.
Barikor further states, “Our duty to Nigerians is a solemn responsibility. We are no longer appealing to any facility to comply with the laws, when you refuse to obey, you face the consequences. We will not hesitate to enforce the law.”
NESREA Seals 29 Facilities in South West for Violation of Environmental Laws
Nigeria Unveils World-Class Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has announced that Nigeria’s first Centralised Passport Personalisation and Production Centre is now completed and fully ready to be deployed to end the challenges facing the nation’s passport issuance process.
Speaking at the tour of facility at the Nigeria immigration Service (NIS) headquarter in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister described the acquisition of the facility as a landmark moment in the ongoing reform aimed at transforming the country’s passport issuance system and eliminate backlogs permanently.
He said the project represents one of the boldest steps by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to modernise the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and align it with global best practices.
According to him, unlike in the past when passports were personalised across 96 locations in Nigeria and the diaspora, the new centralised model consolidates production into a single hub for efficiency, quality assurance, and uniformity.
He noted that: “Nigeria is now in the league of countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, and Bangladesh that run centralised passport personalisation centres,” stressing that: “This is a big win for the government and a major shift towards efficiency and reliability.”
The new facility, built in partnership with IRISMAT Technologies Limited, deploys advanced machines capable of producing up to 1,000 passports per hour—a massive leap from the previous Iskra machines which only produced 250–300 passports per day.
With this capacity, the NIS can now produce between 4,500 and 5,000 passports daily, enabling Nigerians to receive approved passports within 24 hours to one week.
Tunji-Ojo said: “This centre puts an end to the era of backlogs and delays. When this administration came on board, we inherited over 204,000 pending applications. That chapter is now closed. Everything is automated and efficient, ensuring Nigerians get value for their money.”
He highlighted other key reforms achieved under the current administration to include: Migration to a single passport series – eliminating the old dual “A and B” series system to strengthen document integrity; Diaspora coverage – ensuring all missions abroad now issue the enhanced B-series passport; Global authentication compliance, which means Nigeria has been fully integrated into the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)‘s Public Key Directory (PKD), boosting international acceptance of its travel documents.
He stated that: “These reforms ensure that no two Nigerians carry different passport types, enhance global trust in our documents, and position Nigeria as a serious player in global travel systems.”
The Minister credited the project’s success to strong collaboration between government, the NIS, and IRISMAT Technologies Limited.
He emphasised that the facility was not funded directly from government coffers but through a strategic partnership designed to deliver value.
He also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, and all NIS officers who worked tirelessly to deliver what he called “a career and time-defining project.”
Responding to concerns about how the project will impact citizens, the Minister assured Nigerians that the centralisation will drastically reduce waiting time for new passports and changes of data.
He said: “We promised two weeks, but we are working towards one week. With this centre, Nigerians no longer have to wait endlessly. What matters most is service efficiency, and this project guarantees that.”
He described the project as historic, noting that since the establishment of the Immigration Service in 1963, Nigeria had never built such a facility.
“With this centre, Nigeria now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with advanced nations in the management of travel documents. It is a legacy project that will define the future of our passport system,” he said.
Nigeria Unveils World-Class Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre
Police arrest 18 ESN suspects, recover arms and ammunition in Imo
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Imo has arrested 18 suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), including male and female accomplices, and recovered arms, ammunition and other exhibits in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
Zagazola learnt that the arrests followed the routine dislodgement of terrorist camps in Umuaka, Njaba LGA, and Ezioha, Mbaitoli LGA, on Sept. 17, which forced fleeing kingpins into hiding in Agwa, Oguta LGA.
Sources said operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit trailed the suspects to Obudi and Ubah communities in Agwa, where 18 suspects were arrested.
They were identified as Okeabia Onyiyechi, 38; Ndukwe Ebube, 19; Mmadubueze Promise, 20; Raphael Echefu, 19; Ibaku Chigemezu, 19; Chika Augustine, 22; Ibuku Pascal, 22; Mbojisochukwu Odueze, 18; Obioma Emenyionu, 21; Christopher Ugonna, 28; Ozioma Onwatugws, 17; Mathew Chibuenyi, 16; Orusakwe Favour, 19; Uzochi Nkiruka, 45; Uzochi Adaeze, 20; Akubuome Chialuka, 20; Ibuaku Caroline, 50; and Godwin Okechukwu Uzochi, 22, all from Oguta LGA and its environs.
Items recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle, three AK-47 magazines, one pump action gun, 90 rounds of live cartridges, two Biafra flags, and various criminal charms.
The sources added that two suspects sustained gunshot injuries during the raid and are undergoing treatment at the Police Clinic.
The sources noted that some of the arrested suspects confessed to several killings within the state, while others were identified in viral videos with terrorist commanders.
“The command is intensifying efforts to track down other fleeing terrorist kingpins, many of whom escaped with bullet wounds during the encounter,”the sources said.
Police arrest 18 ESN suspects, recover arms and ammunition in Imo
NESREA Seals 29 Facilities in South West for Violation of Environmental Laws
Nigeria Unveils World-Class Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre
Police arrest 18 ESN suspects, recover arms and ammunition in Imo
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