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ECOWAS Court Declares Case Brought by Two NGOs for Alleged Violations of Human Rights, Inadmissible
ECOWAS Court Declares Case Brought by Two NGOs for Alleged Violations of Human Rights, Inadmissible
By: Michael Mike
The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has declared the case of alleged human rights violations brought by two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) against Nigeria inadmissible, citing their lack of capacity to initiate a public interest lawsuit.
In a judgment delivered by Hon Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, the Court equally dismissed all claims made by the applicants—the Incorporated Trustees of Prince and Princess Charles Offokaja Foundation, Nigeria, and Prince and Princess Charles Offokaja Foundation, Switzerland—against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The case, filed under suit number ECW/CCJ/APP25/23, was brought by the NGOs, represented by their agent Charles Offokaja. The applicants alleged that Nigeria’s failure to construct a dam in Adamawa State, designed to mitigate the effects of overflow from the Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon, violated the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.
They argued that the delayed construction of the dam had resulted in flooding, contributing to widespread damage, loss of life, displacement, and the disruption of economic and educational activities across 14 Nigerian states.
The NGOs further contended that the dam project would have alleviated the flooding by enabling proper management of water, which could have been used for irrigation and electricity generation.
They also highlighted the devastating impacts of the Lagdo Dam releases in 2012 and 2022, including the destruction of property, health and environmental challenges.
On it part, the Nigerian government denied the claims, asserting that the pre-feasibility study conducted in 1982 was part of a broader initiative focused on the development of the Benue Basin’s water resources.
The government stated that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Cameroon was centered on enhancing cooperation in managing shared water resources. The Nigerian government also emphasised the steps it had taken to mitigate flooding, including building additional dams and securing a 2024 Senate resolution to facilitate the dredging of the Benue and Niger Rivers.
It argued that while the Court had jurisdiction to hear human rights cases, the applicants failed to demonstrate the specific victims affected by the flooding or to show any direct violations of rights.
In its judgment, the Court affirmed that it had jurisdiction to hear cases related to human rights violations. However, it concluded that the second applicant, a Swiss-registered NGO, lacked the legal capacity to bring a case before the Court.
Regarding the first applicant, a Nigerian-registered NGO, the Court acknowledged its claim to represent public interest but found that the case failed to meet the required criteria for public interest litigation. The Court stated that while the applicants referenced a broad class of victims—the Nigerian people—it was unable to identify or envision the specific victims whose rights were allegedly violated.
“The Court recalls that the requirement is that the class of victims in a public interest litigation even when indeterminable should be capable of being envisaged by the Court,” Justice Koroma said.
Consequently, the Court ruled that the first applicant also lacked the capacity to pursue the case on behalf of the public interest and dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety.
The judgment was delivered by a panel consisting of Honourable Justices Sengu Mohamed Koroma (Presiding & Judge Rapporteur), Dupe Atoki (Member), and Edward Amoako Asante (Member).
ECOWAS Court Declares Case Brought by Two NGOs for Alleged Violations of Human Rights, Inadmissible
Zulum donates N100m to wounded soldiers; families of fallen heroes
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has donated N100 million to aid the families of slain soldiers and those wounded in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the northeast region.
The donation was made on Saturday at an Eid El-Kabir Sallah luncheon hosted jointly by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, held at Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri.
Zulum, while presenting a cheque of N100 million to the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdussalam Abubakar, stated that each of the soldiers wounded in action would be given N500,000, while the remaining amount would be distributed among families left by the soldiers killed in action in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
The presentation of the cheque was witnessed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar and the Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Godwin Mutkut.
Other prominent personalities present include a member of the House of Representatives, Engr. Bukar Talba, Secretary to Borno State Government, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, Head of Service, Dr Muhammad Ghuluze, Ag Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Borno APC Chairman, Hon. Bello Ayuba, among many senior government officials.
Zulum commended the resilience and patriotism of the Nigerian Armed Forces, emphasising that their sacrifices should never be forgotten. He said: “Your commitment on the frontlines, often under extreme conditions and far from your families, is not lost on us. We remain eternally grateful for your service and will never take your sacrifices for granted.”
The Governor also assured the military leadership of his continued support, stating that: “Borno State will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Nigerian Army and all security agencies in the fight against insurgency and rebuilding our communities for a peaceful and prosperous future.”
Zulum donates N100m to wounded soldiers; families of fallen heroes
Yobe: One killed as Fulani attacks traders in Fune local government
By: Yahaya Wakili
One person was reportedly killed and many injured on Monday, during a market day in Kayeri village of the Fune local government area of Yobe state, where Fulani invaded the market, started beating the people, and looted their properties.
Eyewitnesses said that as a result of this, one person was killed and properties worth thousands of naira were looted by the Fulanis, and some people are saying the incident was caused by the negligence of the government.
They narrated that this has been happening every year in either the Eid-el-Fitr or Eid-el-Kabir is approaching. On every market day, the government used to reinforce security and vigilantes to protect the lives and properties of the people from Fulani looters.
According to them, this time around, the local government didn’t send any security or vigilantes to the market day, so the Fulanis took advantage of this: they invaded the market, started beating the people, killed one person, and looted people’s properties.
When contacting the chairman of the local government, Alhaji Baba Goni Mustapha Bade, he started reacting violently to our reporter for attempting to make findings on the incident.
“Why are you journalists doing this? I will not say anything about this. Go and write whatever you want to write.” Bana Goni said
Yobe: One killed as Fulani attacks traders in Fune local government
Marwa describes Prof. Jubril Aminu an epitome of knowledge
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) has described former Minister of Education, Prof JubrilAminu as an epitome of knowledge who made positive impacts in medicine, education, foreign policy, politics, oil industry, and all other sectors where he served Nigeria at different times.
Marwa, in a statement on Friday, said the death of Aminu on Thursday 5th June “is a monumental loss that leaves a multitude of people grief-stricken in Nigeria and outside the shores of this country.”
He said: “Even at 85, we would have loved to see him live much longer, for many more years, so that Nigeria can continue to benefit from his depth of knowledge and wealth of experience that cuts across critical sectors of human development.”
Marwa said the outpour of tributes in the past 24 hours is an indication of Prof Aminu’s far-reaching influence and impact across various spheres of life, all of which further exacerbated the sense of loss for Nigerians.
He added that: “Yet, in our state of bereavement, we cannot but celebrate the life and times of an extraordinary man, an epitome of knowledge who, until he passed on, was and is still one of Nigeria’s finest examples in medicine and academics, where he made lasting impacts.”
The NDLEA boss said apart from coming from the same state with the late Senator, who once represented Adamawa Central in the National Assembly, he has good memories of the various times and stages their paths crossed in the service of the nation.
Marwa describes Prof. Jubril Aminu an epitome of knowledge
Zulum donates N100m to wounded soldiers; families of fallen heroes
Fadile Pays Tribute to Late CJN Mohammed Uwais, Describes Him as “My Father in the Judiciary.”
Yobe: One killed as Fulani attacks traders in Fune local government
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