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ECOWAS Court finds Sierra Leone guilty of human rights violations during Makeni protests

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ECOWAS Court finds Sierra Leone guilty of human rights violations during Makeni protests

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Court of Justice, has delivered its decision in the case of Hassan Kargbo and seven others against the State of Sierra Leone.

The applicants brought an action before the ECOWAS Court of Justice against the State of Sierra Leone for serious violations of their fundamental rights during the tragic events that took place in Makeni in July 2020, particularly the violations of the right to security of the person, the right to life and the right to an effective remedy.

The events leading to this case took place on 17 and 18 July 2020, when a demonstration by young people was violently quelled by the Sierra Leone law enforcement.

According to the applicants, the army and police used live ammunition and tear gas against the demonstrators, causing deaths and serious injuries among unarmed civilians. Several victims, including Foday Kargbo, Mohamed Sillah and Alusine Sesay, died as a result of this crackdown.

The State of Sierra Leone neither appeared nor presented a defence. The Court delivered its judgment by default.

In the judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Gbéri-bè Ouattara, Judge-Rapporteur, the Court found that the State of Sierra Leone had violated the right to security of the applicants Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah. Nonetheless, the Court found that the State had neither violated the right to life of the applicants, who were still alive, nor their right to an effective remedy.

As for the unarmed civilians who had lost their lives in the violence, the claim of the applicants who had presented themselves as their rightful heirs was declared inadmissible for failure to provide proof of their death and of their kinship with the victims.

Furthermore, the Court found that the State had failed in its obligation to conduct investigations into the events at Makeni.
As compensation for these violations, it ordered the State to pay USD 15,000 in damages to each of the applicants Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah for violation of their right to security. It also enjoined the State to take measures to prevent the excessive use of force during peaceful demonstrations and to conduct an investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence.

The three-member panel of the Court were Honorable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves (presiding judge), Honorable Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara (judge-rapporteur) and Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante (panel member).

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Don’t Stereotype an Ethnic Group as Cause of Fallout with Citizens of Foreign Country, Dabiri-Erewa Warns

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Don’t Stereotype an Ethnic Group as Cause of Fallout with Citizens of Foreign Country, Dabiri-Erewa Warns

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has warned against stereotyping a particular ethnic group activities as the reason for recent fallout with citizens of a particular country.

She noted that crime has no federal character, insisting that Nigerians should not stereotype anyone based on their ethnic group.

Answering questions on Arise Newsday on Sunday morning, she said just as NIDCOM appeals to countries not to judge Nigerians based on the activities of a few people who may commit one crime or the other , Nigerians should also not judge any ethnic group based on the activities of a few bad elements

She said any one who commits a crime should be held accountable and punished for that crime , adding that “ the few bad ones should not spoil the numerous good.”

She also stressed that Nigeria will continue to ensure that no Nigerian is punished for an offence they did not commit, while appealing to Nigerians to obey the laws of other countries

She also stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed that the Nigerians stranded in CAR who were rescued and are now in the safe hands of the Embassy be brought back home safely

On the issue of Libya , she appealed to Nigerians to stop falling victims of agents and trafickers.and called on the media to project positive stories about Nigeria and Nigerians , adding that “bad news travels fast . Nobody will celebrate us but ourselves.”

Don’t Stereotype an Ethnic Group as Cause of Fallout with Citizens of Foreign Country, Dabiri-Erewa Warns

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Nigeria, Algeria Deepen Diplomatic Ties as New Embassy Chancery Project Commences in Algiers

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Nigeria, Algeria Deepen Diplomatic Ties as New Embassy Chancery Project Commences in Algiers

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and Algeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations following a high-level diplomatic engagement between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries, Yusuf Tuggar (Nigeria), and Ahmed Attaf (Algeria).

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim AbdulKadir, during the meeting, both Ministers exchanged views on shared strategic interests and pledged to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and multilateral platforms.

He disclosed that emphasis was placed on revitalizing the Nigeria-Algeria Binational Commission, enhancing regional coordination, and promoting African priorities on the global stage.

He said in a related development, Tuggar also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new Chancery building for the Embassy of Nigeria in Algiers.

He said the event, which held at Dely Ibrahim—the diplomatic enclave in the Algerian capital—was attended by senior officials, Embassy staff, and members of the Nigerian community.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister noted that the project marks a significant step in modernizing Nigeria’s diplomatic infrastructure. The new Chancery is designed with eco-friendly architecture, enhanced security features, and upgraded facilities to improve consular service delivery and working conditions for Foreign Service personnel.

He said the construction is scheduled to begin immediately and is expected to be completed within 18 months, in line with the Ministry’s broader reform agenda aimed at projecting Nigeria’s image abroad and fostering international cooperation

.Nigeria, Algeria Deepen Diplomatic Ties as New Embassy Chancery Project Commences in Algiers

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Nigeria, Benin Fine-Tune Framework for Economic Cooperation

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Nigeria, Benin Fine-Tune Framework for Economic Cooperation

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have commenced the process of operationalizing the economic cooperation agreement they signed during the recently held West Africa Economic Summit (WAES).

Both countries had at the maiden regional economic summit in June 2025, in Abuja, signed the memorandum of understanding.

At a two-day meeting of officials of both countries to work out the framework for the implementation of the economic cooperation agreement held August 1-2, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the move was in line with the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Minister praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight in conceptualizing the summit as catalyst for the economic growth of the region.

She described the bilateral engagement as timely emphasizing that the two countries were bound not only by geography, but by centuries of shared history, familial ties, culture, commerce and vibrant commercial activity.

The Minister on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, also congratulated the Republic of Benin on her 65th Independence anniversary noting that it was fitting the important dialogue took place at a moment of national pride and reflection for the country.

She stated that over the years, the bilateral relations between the two West African neighbours had grown from informal interactions to a structured, strategic partnership, but not without challenges—ranging from trafficking and smuggling to wider trans-border crimes.

She noted that both countries had always found solutions whenever they came together with sincerity and determination.

“Our shared successes affirm a truth we must never lose sight of: that cooperation, not conflict; dialogue, not suspicion, remain our best tools for overcoming obstacles,” the Minister said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared that the visit of the Nigerian delegation was not merely a technical conversation but a symbolic and political commitment.

According to the Minister, it was a commitment to Nigerian people and to the ideals of economic development, peace, and stability.

Therefore, both countries must be driven by a shared vision and mutual trust as they seek to build a resilient and sustainable trade corridor between their nations.

She added that: “The frequency and depth of our engagements at the highest political levels underscore the strategic nature of our relationship. The recent efforts of Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Patrice Talon to recalibrate our bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and border management, demonstrate a shared political will to resolve longstanding issues and usher in a new era of mutual prosperity. Both Presidents have shown remarkable leadership in guiding this partnership forward. Their engagements, particularly at the West Africa Economic Summit have reaffirmed the mutual desire to build a future anchored in trade, security, and economic transformation. You would recall the words of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who at the Summit said, “Nigeria and Benin are more than twins. We are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is possible.” I can boldly affirm that the discussions we’ve had from the 31st of July are an extension of that statement and vision.

“The bilateral meetings held in the course of this visit and the ones we will continue to have, offer yet another opportunity for us to deepen our dialogue and build on the gains made through various mechanisms; be it the Trade Facilitation Committee, the Joint Customs Working Groups, or the recent strides made in cross-border trade harmonization. We must seize this momentum to find practical and forward-looking solutions to the challenges that continue to constrain our trade and economic cooperation.

“It is important that we work together to ensure that policies and procedures on both sides of the border promote legitimate trade, encourage investment, and empower our business communities. Let us continue to align our customs and transit frameworks, streamline bottlenecks, and reinforce our joint commitment to regional integration under ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

On her part, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, who presented the resolutions at the meeting noted that the economic cooperation would cover four thematic areas including trading services and private sector engagements, market access, customs procedures and trade facilitation, transport infrastructure and storage. Technical working groups are expected to deliberate of these areas and submit reports in Abuja in the coming weeks.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, said his country was committed to sustaining excellent mutually beneficial relations with Nigeria.

The Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Benin, Mrs. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, the Director General of Customs, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi, the Director, Africa Affairs Department in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Regina Ocheni, Director, Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Innocent Iwejuo and members of the technical committee as well as members of both delegations, participated in the meetings.

Nigeria, Benin Fine-Tune Framework for Economic Cooperation

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