News
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of justice on 30th of November, 2023, declared the State of Côte d’Ivoire liable for violation of rights of Adou Kouamé and nine other Ivorians, and ordered the Ivorian government to pay 50 million CFA Francs to each of them as compensation.
In its judgement delivered by Hon Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, Judge Rapporteur, the Court declared that the Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire violated the right to healthy environment and health, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, right to freedom of religion and right of minorities to have their own culture.
However, the Court dismissed the Applicants – Adou Kouame and Others’ claim that their right to property was violated, for lack of sufficient evidence of ownership. The Court also declared the second, thirteenth and fourteenth Applicants in the suit as improper parties before the Court, stating that they did not present evidence showing their relationship with the parents they claimed to be representing respectively. The Applicants request for collective compensation was dismissed by the Court too.
In the case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/08/21, the Applicants – Adou Kouame, village head of Similimi and 14 other residents, claimed that the State of Côte d’Ivoire’s failure to protect them from the negative effects of the mining activities in their community violated their right to healthy and sustainable environment, and health, right to religious and cultural freedom, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, and right to property guaranteed under international laws cited in the application.
The Applicants’ lead counsels, Mr Rashidi Ibitowa, Ms Geneviève Aïssata Diallo and Mr Jonathan Kaufman argued that the Ivorian government did not “take measures to give effect to human rights protected by international law,” adding that the mining operations have had adverse effects on plantations, forests, rivers and places of worship causing them health hazards from polluted water, polluted air, explosions, noise pollution and ground tremors. And that their ancestral places of worship were destroyed by the mining activities including altars for sacrifices and they are of the opinion their ancestors are angry with them because their prayers and invocations were no longer answered.
They also asked the Court to hold the State liable for failure to validate the impact assessment results of 2010 that would have resettled them, adding that the Ministry of Mining and Geology renewed the mining licence of the company in 2018 despite the fact that the environmental damage persisted, and the company had not fulfilled its obligations.
They demanded 12 billion CFA francs as compensation for the estimated 600 residents of Similimi, and another 3 billion CFA francs for the Applicants for the prejudice suffered, and an order for their resettlement, among other reliefs.
The Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire said that following the exploitation of the mines, and the residents’ demand for compensation from the mining company as well as complaint of adverse effect on water and human health, the Minister of Environment engaged its agencies – Ivorian Anti-Pollution Centre (CIAPOL) and the National Environment Agency (ANDE) and that their reports led to the suspension of the activities of the mining company by an Order of 11 November 2015.
However, the company was allowed to resume activities in 2016 while implementing corrective measures, adding that periodic meetings between all parties continued until 2020 and that a general meeting was also held in 2021.
The Respondent asked the Court to declare the case inadmissible arguing that the matter was within the jurisdiction of national courts and that the claims of the Applicants were ill-founded and should be dismissed.
In the judgment, the Court which held that the matter was within its jurisdiction, also asked the State of Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the residents of Similimi community located in Bondoukou district in Côte d’Ivoire were resettled in compliance with relevant laws, ensure a healthy environment is restored rapidly, end the ongoing environmental degradation, and hold the perpetrators responsible for the environmental degradation.
The State of Côte d’Ivoire was ordered to bear the cost of litigation, and submit to the Court within three months, measures taken to implement this judgment.
Also on the bench were Justices Edward Amoako Asante (presiding) and Dupe Atoki (Member).
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
Zulum Receives Seven Ambassadors, UN Officials on Humanitarian Visit to Maiduguri
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has received ambassadors from seven countries alongside senior United Nations and federal government officials during a high-level humanitarian visit to Maiduguri.
The visiting diplomats represented India, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, Malaysia and Qatar. They were accompanied by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro.
The visit was organised to give the international partners an opportunity to directly assess the humanitarian situation in Borno State and observe ongoing recovery and development efforts following years of conflict.
During the visit on Tuesday, the delegation was taken on a tour of key projects implemented by the Zulum administration in the areas of education, healthcare and human capital development. The tour was led by the Acting Governor of the state, Umar Usman Kadafur.
Addressing journalists after the tour, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator praised Governor Zulum for what he described as visible and impactful infrastructure development across the state. He noted that the projects showcased a different narrative from the usual focus on security challenges in the region.
According to Fall, initiatives in education, vocational skills training, girl-child education and malnutrition treatment demonstrate deliberate efforts to improve the lives of residents and address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis. He stressed that sustained investment in education remains critical to long-term peace and development in the state.
Also speaking, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded in Borno despite more than a decade of conflict. He commended the governor’s leadership, describing the facilities visited as practical tools for empowering residents and lifting them out of poverty.
The minister added that the vocational centres, comprehensive schools and other social infrastructure reflect a strong commitment to recovery, resilience and inclusive development in the state.
Zulum Receives Seven Ambassadors, UN Officials on Humanitarian Visit to Maiduguri
Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop
By: Zagazola Makama
A routine police patrol in Katsina State on Monday degenerated into a fire incident after officers recklessly fired teargas into a cement shop, causing a blaze and injuring a trailer driver in Charanchi Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on Feb. 2, when personnel attached to the Malumfashi Division intercepted an unregistered cement trailer while returning from special duty en route from Katsina to Malumfashi.
Witnesses said that instead of handling the traffic offence with restraint, the patrol team fired teargas, which strayed into a nearby cement shop owned by Umar Abdullahi, and ignited a fire.
“The teargas landed inside the shop and immediately started a fire. People ran out in panic. We had to struggle to put it out,” a resident said.
The fire destroyed some goods before it was eventually extinguished by residents and emergency responders.
The trailer driver, Gambo Abdurrahman, of Gidan Dawa, Katsina, also sustained a fracture on his right leg during the incident. He was rushed to General Hospital, Kankia, and later referred to an Orthopaedic Hospital for specialist treatment.
Police sources confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and that the officers involved had been defaulted for disciplinary action.
“The Command has ordered a full investigation into the reckless use of teargas that led to the fire outbreak and injury. Appropriate sanctions will follow,” a senior officer said.
Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop
Terrorists kill scores in Kwara village attack – lawmaker
By: Zagazola Makama
Scores of persons were killed in a terrorist attack on Woro Village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, the lawmaker representing Kaiama in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu Baba Ahmed, has confirmed.
Ahmed who disclosed this on Wednesday said that the death toll had risen to 35 as of this morning, while many residents were still missing in the surrounding bush after fleeing the community during the attack.
“I’m on my way to Woro where the mayhem took place yesterday, along with a detachment of soldiers from Ilorin. I have also been informed that other soldiers are following the attackers. I’m glad to say that I spoke with the Emir this morning and he is alive,” he said.
Security sources said the attack occurred on Feb. 3 at about 7:07 p.m., when terrorists suspected to be Boko Haram Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) stormed Woro, setting houses and shops ablaze as residents fled in panic.
The assailants reportedly withdrew after spotting an approaching aircraft, but intelligence indicates they may still be lurking nearby and could attempt to return once security pressure eases.
Meanwhile, security sources warned that terrorist operations are escalating across the North-West and North-Central, with attacks spreading into border communities with the Republic of Benin, particularly in Kwara and Niger States.
The sources noted that terrorists infiltrating from the Sahel axis have merged with local criminal groups. Two major groups – JNIM/AQIM and IS Sahel are said to be competing for territory, using forest corridors and borderlands as launch pads for further attacks.
While parts of the North-West face encroachment from ISIS-linked elements along Niger’s borders with Sokoto and Kebbi, JNIM’s operations reportedly stretch from the W–Arly–Pendjari (WAP) Forest Complex into Benin, diverting into North-Central Nigeria.
Zagazola stressed that containing the threat requires strong regional cooperation, describing the violence as part of a wider Sahelian security crisis rather than an isolated state-level problem.
Terrorists kill scores in Kwara village attack – lawmaker
Zulum Receives Seven Ambassadors, UN Officials on Humanitarian Visit to Maiduguri
Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop
OPINION: Growing ISWAP–ISIS ties in Sahel after Niamey attack threaten Lake Chad and West African security corridor
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News10 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
