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ECOWAS Court Delivers Judgment on Violation of Liberia Party’s Rights
ECOWAS Court Delivers Judgment on Violation of Liberia Party’s Rights
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a judgment in a suit brought by a Liberian political party, True Whig Party (TWP) alleging the violation of its rights to property, fair hearing, and effective remedy by the Republic of Liberia.
Delivering its judgment, the Court declared it had jurisdiction to entertain the matter. It also declared that the Applicant’s application was admissible, but however ruled that there was no violation of right to property by the Republic of Liberia.
Lawyer to the applicant averred that True Whig Party was founded in 1869 and registered as a political entity in Liberia and was the ruling party until 1980 when the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) orchestrated a coup. The party claimed that thirteen of its members were summarily executed, and its headquarters, the ‘E.J Roye Building’ was confiscated by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), the self-styled military government.
The applicant argued that despite an amendment of the decree which allowed the return of the confiscated E.J Roye Building, the respondent did not return the property, and its subsequent offer to buy the building for $600,000 was refused.
It further explained that afterwards, the respondent entered into a questionable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with former party members who received $130,000 in 2013, though their tenure had expired.
The applicant said it also opposed the respondent’s attempt to change ownership of the property to the state’s agency – the National Oil Company (NOCAL).
It contended that the confiscation violated its rights, particularly rights to fair hearing and property under the Liberian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), and International Treaties.
It asked the Court to make a declaration that the forceful takeover of the applicant’s headquarters – E. J Roye Building in Monrovia, Liberia is illegal and violated its fundamental right. It also sought an order of the Court directing the Respondent to pay the sum of $10 million to the applicant as aggravated and general damages.
On its part, the respondent, the State of Liberia acknowledged the killing of the party’s leader and the confiscation of properties including the party’s headquarters building which is the subject matter of the case.
The respondent said it sought reconciliation when it made a gratuitous payment of $225,000 for the party’s relocation and rebuilding, and insisted the applicant was bound by the MoU indicating the Applicant has leased the property to another establishment. It urged the Court to declare the application inadmissible due to a prior ruling of the Supreme Court of Liberia on the same subject matter, adding that the application was an abuse of court process.
In its judgment, the Court held that the applicant failed to prove that its right to fair hearing, guaranteed under Article 7 of the African Charter has been violated by the respondent.
On the allegation of violation of the applicant’s right to property (ownership of the E.J. Roye Building), the Court noted that the applicant’s claim was unsubstantiated and declared that the respondent did not violate the applicant’s right to property as guaranteed by Article 14 of the African Charter
The judgment was delivered by the Judge Rapporteur, Hon. Justice Dupe Atoki. Other judges on the panel were Hon. Justices Sengu M. Koroma and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves.
ECOWAS Court Delivers Judgment on Violation of Liberia Party’s Rights
Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland
By: Zagazola Makama
A Fulani herder has been shot dead and a vigilante injured following a confrontation between herders and security operatives in Jakusko Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a group of Fulani herdsmen were allegedly destroying farmlands in Lafiya, Saban, Garin, Sara, Jaba and Muguram villages.
According to him, a joint patrol team comprising the police, Joint Task Force (JTF) and vigilantes was immediately deployed to the affected areas.
“Upon arrival at the scene, one of the herders attacked a vigilante, Saidu Yau of Lafiya village, with a machete, inflicting a deep cut on his left thigh.
“The same herder also attempted to attack a soldier, Private Adamu Ismail, attached to the JTF. The soldier, in self-defence, fired at the attacker, leading to his death,” said the sources.
The sources said that both the injured vigilante and the herder were rushed to the General Hospital, Jakusko, for medical attention.
“The herder was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the injured vigilante is responding to treatment,” the sources added.
Police sources said the remains of the deceased herder had been released to the Sarkin Fulani, Hon. Hassan Lamido Manu, pending the arrival of the family.
He said investigation into the incident was ongoing to ascertain the circumstances and prevent further clashes.
Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland
PEBEC Commends FRSC on Nationwide Clearance of Driver’s Licence Backlog
By: Michael Mike
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for the improvement in the issuance of driver’s licences nationwide and clearance of the backlog.
A statement on Wednesday by Director General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu acknowledges the prompt and comprehensive actions taken by the FRSC in response to service delivery concerns regarding delays in the production of driver’s licences nationwide.
The statement read: “Following PEBEC’s formal communication on November 7, 2025, the FRSC initiated a full internal review and identified the delays within the national driver’s licence production system. PEBEC commends the Corps for swiftly restoring system functionality and implementing enhanced monitoring mechanisms to prevent future disruptions.
“The Council welcomes FRSC’s successful clearance of accumulated backlogs and its increase in daily production capacity to 15,000 licences, an important milestone in improving service efficiency. Of particular significance is the FRSC’s introduction of the Contactless Biometric Capture System, a forward-looking innovation that aims to deliver permanent driver’s licences within 48 hours, effectively eliminating the need for temporary licences. This aligns strongly with PEBEC’s mandate to drive regulatory efficiency, enhance transparency, and improve citizen experience in public service delivery.”
“PEBEC encourages all applicants whose licences have been produced to visit FRSC centres nationwide and pick up their permanent driver’s licences, in line with the nationwide sensitization campaign by FRSC for the collection of over 294,000 unclaimed licences. This will help decongest service centres, improve turnaround times, and support the Corps’ ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency,” the statement added.
“The Council reiterates its commitment to collaborating with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure seamless, responsive, and business-friendly service delivery across Nigeria,” the statement further stated.
PEBEC Commends FRSC on Nationwide Clearance of Driver’s Licence Backlog
IPOB staged video in attempts to frame herders, incite genocide narrative
By: Zagazola Makama
A controversial video circulating on social media has triggered outrage over a “staged attempt to weaponise disinformation, incite ethnic tension and portraying peaceful herder communities as Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria’s South East
The video, which purportedly shows “Boko Haram with arms” issuing threats in Hausa, has been dismissed by multiple security sources, community leaders and conflict monitors as inauthentic and deliberately crafted to mislead the public and international community.
The individuals in the clip neither speak with the accent typical of Boko Haram or ISWAP fighters, nor display the mode of presentation associated with jihadist groups in the North East.
Instead, the attackers’ heavily disguised faces, awkward staging, and inconsistent speech patterns strongly suggest that the recording may have been produced by elements of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), allegedly attempting to portray themselves as Fulani or northern extremists.
The objective of such fabrications is twofold: to demonise peaceful pastoralist communities in the South East, and to build false evidence for international audiences by claiming that “genocide” is being committed against Igbo people by Muslim groups despite a lack of credible evidence supporting such claims.
A senior security analyst who has monitored separatist activities in the region described the video as “another poorly staged propaganda material designed to mislead Nigerians and deepen ethnic suspicion.”
According to him, Boko Haram and ISWAP cells have never produced videos with their faces tightly covered in the manner seen in the clip, nor do they speak with the accent heard.
“The mannerisms, language delivery and the entire setup clearly do not align with Boko Haram or ISWAP’s media signatures,” he said. “These are not Fulani herders, nor northern extremists Boko Haram. This was engineered for propaganda purposes.”
Sources in the South East also note that violent attacks in the region over recent years burning of police stations, targeted killings, extortion, enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders have largely been carried out by IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Yet some of these incidents have been blamed on Fulani communities to sustain a dangerous narrative of ethnic persecution.
Such deceptive tactics risk escalating tensions between ethnic groups and misleading international observers into misunderstanding Nigeria’s complex security landscape.
“This is how dangerous precedents are set,” a northern pastoralist leader said. “We have suffered enough from false accusations. Videos like this are used to justify hatred, violence and calls for international intervention based on propaganda.”
Misinformation especially videos staged to impersonate other groups has become a growing tactic among violent non-state actors seeking sympathy, legitimacy or international attention.
As investigations continue, authorities urge the public to verify information before sharing, noting that propaganda remains one of the most potent weapons used by extremist groups to inflame divisions.
IPOB staged video in attempts to frame herders, incite genocide narrative
Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland
Boko Haram: Zulum meets COAS, says the worst is over
PEBEC Commends FRSC on Nationwide Clearance of Driver’s Licence Backlog
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