National News
ECOWAS Court Holds Republic of Ghana liable for Breach of Citizen’s Right to Information
ECOWAS Court Holds Republic of Ghana liable for Breach of Citizen’s Right to Information
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice on 12 July 2024, held that the Republic of Ghana violated the right to information of Isaac Mensah and ordered the State to provide him with the requested information.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Judge Rapporteur, the Court ordered the Republic of Ghana to release to Isaac Mensah, documents relating to the investigations on the enforced disappearance of his father and subsequent actions. The documents include a 2009 UN/ECOWAS Investigation Report, the coroner’s report on bodies evacuated to Ghana and report on the disbursement of the money paid by The Gambia to the affected families, among others.
The Court dismissed all other claims sought by Isaac Mensah and the Registered Trustees of African Network Against Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances (ANEKED) against the Republic of Ghana concerning the arrest, detention, and disappearance of some West African migrants in The Gambia in July 2005.
In the application with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/47/20, filed on 18 November 2020, the Applicants alleged that Peter Mensah, a Ghanaian and father of Isaac Mensah, was among some West African migrants travelling to Europe through The Gambia who were arrested by state security agents of The Gambia and killed or disappeared.
They averred that Ghana violated its human rights obligations under the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) by its failure to thoroughly investigate the enforced disappearance of Peter Mensah in The Gambia, provide effective remedy and grant the Applicants access to information relating to the unlawful detention and disappearance of Peter Mensah.
They asked the Court to direct the State to conduct an effective investigation into the disappearance of Peter Mensah, give copies of past fact-finding reports and other requested documents to the Applicants, and pay the sum of 1,500,000 USD as compensation to the first Applicant, Isaac Mensah.
In response, the Republic of Ghana challenged the competence of the Court to hear the matter since the incident occurred in The Gambia, outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana. It also objected the admissibility of the application on the grounds that the Applicants did not establish their relationship to Peter Mensah, the primary victim of the alleged human rights violations. It therefore asked the Court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction and inadmissibility.
On jurisdiction, the Court declared it had jurisdiction over Isaac Mensah’s claim relating to violation of the right to information but declined jurisdiction over alleged violation of the prohibition against enforced disappearance, right to effective remedy and right to truth. The Court noted that incidents forming the basis of those claims occurred outside the territory of the Republic of Ghana and therefore the Court did not have jurisdiction over them.
On admissibility, the Court declared the first Applicant’s application relating to the violation of the right to information was admissible but that he lacked the capacity to sue on behalf of other 23 individuals claiming to be members of the Mensah family due to lack of authorisation to sue on their behalf. It also struck out the second Applicant, Registered Trustees of African Network Against Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances (ANEKED) from the suit for lack of evidence of any mandate to bring the application on behalf of the Applicants.
In its findings, the Court noted that despite getting a waiver of confidentiality from The Gambia on a 2009 UN/ECOWAS Investigation Report on the alleged detention and enforced disappearance of Peter Mensah and others, Ghana had failed to release it to Isaac Mensah. Consequently, the Court held that the Republic of Ghana breached the Applicant, Isaac Mensah’s right to information contrary to Article 9(1) of the African Charter and Article 19(2) of the ICCPR.
The Court ordered the Republic of Ghana to release the Report and other documents requested by the Applicant to him within four months of the service of the judgment.
Also on the bench were Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara and Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves.
ECOWAS Court Holds Republic of Ghana liable for Breach of Citizen’s Right to Information
National News
President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre
President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre
By: Bodunrin Kayode
President Bola Tinubu will today visit the Plateau state capital Jos to commiserate with residents who lost loved ones during the Palm Sunday shooting spree by criminals that took place at Angwa rukuba area of the city.
The President who was scheduled to visit Ogun state postponed his scheduled trip to Iperu, meant to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport.
From the Plateau, the President is expected to travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday public holiday which ushers the beginning of the Easter public holiday which rounds up the lent period.
A state house release signed yesterday by the Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga noted that President Tinubu will travel to Ogun State for the commissioning of the Cargo Airport and the inauguration of two commercial aircrafts for the export and import of goods, aimed at boosting the state’s economic growth on Saturday April 4th.
“He will also inaugurate the new edifice of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service and its operational vehicles.
“He will return to Lagos to continue the Easter holiday, during which he is also expected to commission infrastructural projects undertaken by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“These projects include: the iconic Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge; the Lagos State Geographic Information System Building; the Multi-Agency Complex named after the President, and a school Complex.
“Before returning to Abuja, President Tinubu will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission some of Governor Duoye Diri’s completed projects.” Said the release.
Sadly several residents lost their lives during the black Palm Sunday shooting spree which is suspected to have been carried out by auto bike riding bandits following after their patterns in the hinterlands of the state.
These bandits who had tormented, killed and destroyed homes of residences of the Jos north axis of the state for several years after September 7th 2001
This damnation let loose on innocent residents is resurfacing after hundreds of killings had occurred in the Jos North council area of the state from September 7th 2001 till date.
And because of the myriad of challenges creeping into the federal security system sub regionals have geared up to manage their on police and Intel services which would assist greatly because they are masters of their territories.
The Federal government is fast tracking the process of state police to ensure that each sub nationals take charge of their environment to ensure that they support the center in the maintenance of internal security.
President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre
National News
NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe
NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said that in 2026, the length of the rainy season in Gombe State is expected to be between 107 and 138 days.
This is contained in the Agency’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) document, which Gayus Musa, the meteorological manager for Gombe State, made available to Our Correspondent in Gombe on Tuesday.
The total amount of rainfall across Gombe State in 2026 is predicted to be between 701 mm in the northern part of the state (Nafada) and 1089 mm in the South (Shongom).
The onset of the rainfall is expected to commence in the state on May 29 (Shongom) and cease by October 22 (Yamaltu/Deba).
Similarly, in the prediction, four local government areas of the state, namely: Nafada, Yamaltu/Deba, Dukku and Funakaye were likely to be impacted by a severe dry spell (21 days and above) between June and August.
Musa while speaking to Our Correspondent on the first rainfall experienced in some communities in Akko, Gombe and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas of the state on Monday urged farmers to resist the temptation of early planting of crops.
He described the first rain as false onset, explaining that the rainfall was false because it would not support any germination as seeds planted with such rain would not survive.
“This (first rain) is a false onset because the precipitation cannot carry any germination and so any seed planted would not survive.
“So farmers should not engage themselves in planting but to prepare their farmlands while getting their seeds and other inputs ready,” he said.
Musa advised farmers in the state, to make use of the prediction in carrying out farming activities towards avoiding losses in view of the impact of climate change on agriculture.
He further urged relevant authorities in the state to take proactive measures towards tackling environmental issues associated with the rainy season.
NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe
National News
Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship
Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship
By: Michael Mike
The rumoured interest of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar in becoming the governor of Bauchi State come 2027 may have been confirmed he resigned on Monday to prepared ground for actualization of his political ambition.
The resignation was ahead of the deadline set for political appointees seeking elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.
In a resignation letter submitted to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tuggar expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the country and contribute to the implementation of the administration’s Four-D foreign policy strategy.
The former minister also appreciated the management and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the diplomatic community for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.
During his time in office, Tuggar was credited with advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives through initiatives focused on people-centred diplomacy. These included humanitarian evacuations, facilitation of scholarships for Nigerians abroad, and sustained support for citizens in the diaspora.
His tenure also witnessed increased diaspora engagement, including efforts to develop a structured database of Nigerians living abroad aimed at strengthening their participation in national development.
In addition, Tuggar strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations through strategic engagements with traditional partners and regional alliances, particularly across the Global South. His leadership also promoted regional security cooperation and supported the formation of the Regional Partnership for Democracy initiative.
He also prioritised economic diplomacy, positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign investment, especially in the energy sector, while facilitating diplomatic interventions that secured the release of detained Nigerians in foreign countries and improved bilateral relations.
The resignation letter was received on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Dr. Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, ahead of the March thirty-first deadline directed by President Tinubu in line with provisions of the Electoral Act.
Tuggar’s resignation was conveyed in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir.
Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship
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