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ECOWAS Court Orders Togo to Remedy Violation of Citizen’s Right to Fair Trial
ECOWAS Court Orders Togo to Remedy Violation of Citizen’s Right to Fair Trial
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice, has ruled in favor of Mr. Kessei Menveinoyou, a Togolese citizen, finding that the Togolese Republic violated his right to a fair and timely appeal under Article 7(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Applicant, Mr. Kessei Menveinoyou, a driver residing in Lomé, submitted an employment dispute with the Togolese Ministry of Health to a Labour Court in Lomé in 2015. After an initial judgment by the Labour Court in favour of the Ministry, he filed an appeal in 2016.
However, according to Mr. Menveinoyou, the Registrar of the Labour Court in Lomé neglected to transmit his appeal to the appropriate appellate court for hearing, resulting in an unreasonable delay of about eight years. He contended that this inaction contravened his fundamental right to have his appeal heard within a reasonable time.
The Togolese Republic objected to the ECOWAS Court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the matter fell within Togo’s domestic legal framework. However, the Court dismissed this objection, clarifying that it has jurisdiction over cases alleging violations of international human rights instruments binding on ECOWAS member states.
In the Judgment delivered by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the Judge Rapporteur, the Court held that as a party to the African Charter, Togo has a legal obligation to uphold the right to fair trial for all its citizens. Therefore, the failure of the Togolese judicial authorities to transmit the Applicant’s appeal to the relevant appellate court violated his right to a fair trial within a reasonable time.
The Court ordered the Togolese Republic to pay Mr. Menveinoyou Five Million CFA Francs (5,000,000 CFA) in damages. It also directed the Respondent State to take the necessary legal or administrative steps to expedite the processing and hearing of the Applicant’s appeal before the appropriate national court.
The three-member panel of the Court were Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves (presiding judge), Honorable Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara (panel member), and Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante (judge rapporteur).
ECOWAS Court Orders Togo to Remedy Violation of Citizen’s Right to Fair Trial
Police arrest man for killing mother-in-law in Kogi over false theft alarm
By: Zagazola Makama
The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a man, Yayu Musa, for allegedly killing his 50-year-old mother-in-law, Atayi Abdul, in Olla Community of Omala Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Friday, July 25, at about 8:00 p.m., when the suspect lured the deceased to her farm under the pretense that thieves were stealing palm fruits from it.
Upon arrival at the farm, Musa reportedly attacked and slaughtered the woman with a knife.
Police detectives were immediately mobilised to the scene where photographs of the crime scene were taken. The suspect was arrested and is currently in custody.
According to police sources, the family of the deceased refused evacuation of the corpse to the hospital for autopsy, opting for immediate burial in accordance with religious and cultural practices.
The command has deployed joint security patrol teams to the community to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order due to rising tension.
Investigation into the motive behind the killing is ongoing.
Police arrest man for killing mother-in-law in Kogi over false theft alarm
One killed, three injured in communal clash over farmland in Niger State
By: Zagazola Makama
One person has been confirmed dead and three others injured following a violent communal clash between Gpakpo and Gidigi communities in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Friday when residents of Gpakpo village, armed with Dane guns, launched an attack on Gidigi villagers at a rice depot.
Security sources confirmed that one Babayi Alhaji Soma was shot and killed during the attack.
Three others Hassan Ndaji, Zakaria Ya’musa, and Mutiu Mohammed, all male residents of Gidigi village sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Katcha for treatment.
Security sources immediately visited the scene, evacuated the victims, and restored calm in the area.
Security forces have been deployed to the affected communities to prevent further violence and maintain law and order.
Authorities say the situation is now under control.
One killed, three injured in communal clash over farmland in Niger State
Armed men kill herder, rustle cattle in Kaduna attack
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected cattle rustlers have killed a herder and stolen an unspecified number of cattle during an attack on a Ruga settlement in Joga Village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when armed men wielding sophisticated weapons stormed the settlement belonging to the late Alhaji Tambaya.
The sources said that security forces were deployed to the scene to contain the situation.
One Sani Muhammed Tambaya, 30, was found with deep machete cuts to the neck and shoulder. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
Security forces said efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen cattle.
Armed men kill herder, rustle cattle in Kaduna attack
Police arrest man for killing mother-in-law in Kogi over false theft alarm
One killed, another injured as gunmen invade Gari Village in Niger State
One killed, three injured in communal clash over farmland in Niger State
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