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ECOWAS Court Dismisses Discrimination Claim in Recruitment Case
ECOWAS Court Dismisses Discrimination Claim in Recruitment Case
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice on 13 May 2025 delivered its judgment in the matter of Mariame Kone-Toure v. ECOWAS Commission (Application No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/24 ruling against the Applicant, who had challenged the fairness of the recruitment process for the position of Head of Administration and Human Resources Division (P5) at the Court. The Court dismissed the applicant’s claims of discrimination in a recruitment process as unsubstantiated.
Case Background
The Applicant, Mariame Kone-Toure, a staff member of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, challenged the recruitment process for the position of Head of Administration and Human Resources Division (P5) at the Court. Having served in an acting capacity since February 2023, she applied for the post when it was advertised in May 2023. Following the interview conducted in January 2024, Ms. Amie Savage was appointed to the position in October 2024.
Ms. Kone-Toure alleged that the selection process violated principles of fairness and non-discrimination as outlined in the ECOWAS Staff Regulations. She argued that although she was one of the top candidates, the Management Succession Committee only recommended one candidate—Ms. Savage—unlike similar recruitments in other ECOWAS institutions, where multiple top candidates were recommended.
Court Findings
On jurisdiction, the Court affirmed its competence to hear the matter under Article 9(1)(f) of the 2005 Amended Protocol. On admissibility, the Court held that the Applicant had exhausted available internal remedies by appealing to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
On the merits, the Court examined allegations of discrimination under Article 4(1) and the principle of equitable geographical distribution under Article 9(2)(f) of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations. It found that the Applicant failed to provide sufficient, verifiable evidence of differential treatment in similar circumstances. The Court noted that while she referenced practices in other institutions, she did not present the names or scores of the candidates allegedly favored, preventing a meaningful comparative analysis.
On the claim regarding geographical distribution, the Court ruled that the principle applies only among equally qualified candidates and does not override the requirement of merit-based selection.
The Court accepted the Respondent’s argument that Ms. Savage was deemed the most qualified candidate for the position.
Court Decision
The Court dismissed all claims made by the Applicant, concluding that:
The recruitment process complied with the ECOWAS Staff Regulations.
No evidence of discrimination or procedural irregularity was established.
The Applicant’s non-selection was not a violation of her rights.
Judicial Panel
The judgment was rendered by a panel comprising:
Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma (Presiding Judge)
Hon. Justice Dupe Atoki(Judge Rapporteur)
Hon. Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara (Member)
ECOWAS Court Dismisses Discrimination Claim in Recruitment Case
News
Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits loyal to notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, have carried out a series of attacks on communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving several people dead and dozens abducted between Wednesday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 16.
The attacks, according to residents, claimed the lives of villagers, a soldier, and a vigilante member, while the fate of many abducted persons remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that the bandits moved from one community to another, abducting residents and causing panic.
“On Wednesday, they laid an ambush for travellers along the Yankasuwa–Masawa road, stopped vehicles and abducted all passengers on board,” one survivor said.
On Thursday, the gunmen attacked Garki village, abducting 16 persons. One was killed, another managed to escape, while three cows were rustled.
The attacks continued on Friday when they raided Turtsawa and Faru villages near Sabon Birni, abducting 28 residents. Families of the missing persons are still searching for their loved ones.
The Movement for Social Justice, a civil society group in Sokoto, confirmed the incidents, noting that their monitoring indicated repeated attacks within four to five days despite peace negotiations claims. The attack is suspected to be orchestrated by Kallamu a top Loyal fighters of Bello Turji.
“Our reports show multiple attacks in succession. It is possible some incidents have gone unreported. We call on the Sokoto State Government to act swiftly and implement recommendations we have submitted to curb the atrocities of Turji’s fighters,” the group said in a statement.
The civil society organization offered prayers for the victims and appealed to government and security agencies to intervene urgently to stop what they described as “unrestrained brutality” in eastern Sokoto.
Last week, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja dismissed claims that Bello Turji had surrendered and accepted amnesty.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, told journalists in Abuja that Turji had not surrendered and remained on the wanted list of the military.
Turji, who operates between Sokoto and Zamfara States, is accused of masterminding several deadly raids and mass abductions across the North-West.
Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
Buni directs SEMA to provide flood victims with support
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON COMN has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide the victims of the flood in the state with immediate support.
Governor Buni commiserated with the victims, adding that, “We have in the last few years been battling with the menace of the flood in some parts of the state, destroying houses and farmlands.
The governor directed the local government chairmen to liaise with SEMA to provide support to the victims.
He also called for cooperation from the communities in finding lasting solutions to the reoccurrence of floods in the affected areas.
Governor Mai Mala Buni also urged the council chairmen to liaise with the community leaders to move flood-prone communities to safer areas.
He directed the relocations of flood-prone communities to safer areas to avoid more casualties.
According to Governor Buni, “As the rainfall intensifies, people in communities in flood-prone areas are kindly requested to move to safer places because we can’t tell when the floods may occur.
Buni directs SEMA to provide flood victims with support
Police arrest INEC officials, recover election materials in Taraba by-election
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Taraba has arrested some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and recovered election materials allegedly diverted during the by-election for Karim Lamido I Constituency of the State House of Assembly.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that on Sunday that the arrests followed credible intelligence provided by party agents.
The sources said the incident occurred on Aug. 16 at about 2:20 p.m. when a team of policemen intercepted the suspects at a private residence in Angwan Sarkin Panya village.
Those arrested included Gideon Amos, 49, an Assistant Presiding Officer II assigned to Polling Unit 16, Angwan Yusuf Dogo, Bikwin Ward, and two others identified as Matthew Jayi, 47, and Tiasama Mathias Musa, 32.
The suspects allegedly diverted materials meant for three polling units PU 005 Gandara, PU 016 Angwan Yusuf Dogo, and PU 029 Angwan Sarkin Primary School — to the residence.
Items recovered from them included three ballot boxes, two BIVAS machines, 19 booklets and 20 pieces of ballot papers, two stamp pads with ink, one marker, and two result sheets.
The sources also disclosed that in the process of resisting the diversion, a police officer on election duty, PC Christian Garba, had his uniform forcibly removed by hoodlums who fled with it.
The sources added that voting had ended in most polling units and collation of results was in progress while investigations into the incident were ongoing.
End
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Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
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