News
ECOWAS Court Takes Training to Cape Verde

ECOWAS Court Takes Training to Cape Verde
By: Michael Mike
The President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Edward Amoako Asante has officially opened the sensitisation and training programme for lawyers on the Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) of the Court in Praia, Cape Verde.
The programme, holding from June 20 to 25, 2024, aims to enhance the digital proficiency of legal practitioners from Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, the Lusophone member states of ECOWAS.
In his opening remarks, Justice Asante extended warm greetings from Abuja, Nigeria, and highlighted the Court’s recent sensitisation missions in Lomé and Accra. He expressed his gratitude to the President of the Supreme Court, the Minister of Justice of Cape Verde, and the Cape Verdean government for their hospitality and support.
Reflecting on the history and mandate of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Asante noted its establishment under the Lagos Treaty of 1975 and its operational commencement in 2001. He emphasised the Court’s expanded jurisdiction to adjudicate human rights cases since 2005, underscoring its role in upholding fundamental rights, the rule of law, and good governance in the region.
Justice Asante discussed the Court’s digitalisation initiatives, which were expedited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the adoption of 2020 Practice Directions on Electronic Case Management and Virtual Court Sessions. These measures have significantly reduced litigation costs and enhanced access to justice, he noted.
The new ECMS, he explained, supports electronic filing, service, and management of cases, streamlining judicial processes and making the Court more accessible.
The ECMS features an external user portal for litigants and lawyers, and an internal interface for judges and judicial staff, accessible 24/7 in English, French, and Portuguese. This system facilitates real-time access to case information, court notifications, and virtual hearings, enhancing transparency and accountability.
The training in Praia marks the final phase of a comprehensive programme to equip lawyers from all ECOWAS member states with the skills needed to navigate the ECMS. Previous training sessions were held in Lomé and Accra for Francophone and Anglophone lawyers respectively.
Justice Asante thanked all participants and organisers, urging everyone to actively participate in the training programme to create a more accessible and efficient justice system for the ECOWAS community.
ECOWAS Court Takes Training to Cape Verde
News
Army troops rescue eight passengers including serving soldier abducted along Jos–Makurdi road

Army troops rescue eight passengers including serving soldier abducted along Jos–Makurdi road
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have rescued eight passengers, including a serving soldier, who were abducted by armed robbers along the Jos–Makurdi road at Rafin Sanyi in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, when the victims were travelling in an ash-coloured Sharon.

A security source told Zagazola Makama that troops of OPSH Sector 6, deployed at Sopp community, swiftly responded to a distress call and engaged the criminals.
Seven of the eight passengers were rescued on the spot, while the eighth victim, identified as Corporal Munyal Abdullahi of 3 Division Garrison, was initially taken away into the surrounding highlands by the assailants.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the soldier, attached to 73 ST Brigade Fire Unit as a driver, had just dismounted from duty and was travelling to Abuja without an official pass to deliver yet-to-be-confirmed items for a relative.

The abductors contacted the rescued victims via phone numbers, demanding a ransom of N60 million for the soldier’s release.
However, following a coordinated search-and-rescue operation by OPSH troops in collaboration with other team, the soldier was successfully rescued and reunited with the other victims.
Army troops rescue eight passengers including serving soldier abducted along Jos–Makurdi road
News
Zulum wins northeast governor of the year award

Zulum wins northeast governor of the year award
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has been conferred with the Northeast Governor of the Year Award. The award presentation was conducted at the Progressive Digital Summit Dinner held over the weekend in Abuja.
The maiden digital summit, 2025, celebrates exemplary stewardship and innovative governance across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The award was received by Zulum’s Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, who expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the governor and the entire Borno State government.
“This honour is a testament to the relentless efforts of Governor Zulum in transforming Borno into a land of hope and progress. His leadership has inspired a new wave of resilience and development in the face of challenges,” Bundi stated.
Bundi reiterated that such honour will serve as vital motivation for Governor Zulum to push even harder for the betterment of the northeast. “This recognition will fuel the resolve of our amiable governor to work tirelessly to ensure that the dreams of our people become reality, and that our region continues on the path of sustainable growth and peace,” Mr Bundi affirmed.

Hon. Bundi was accompanied by SSAs to the Governor, Abdullahi Yusuf and Dogo Mohammed Shettima, Dr Ibrahim Wujema, Goni M. Tar, Bulama Mohammed Bukar, among other Borno participants at the summit.
Zulum wins northeast governor of the year award
News
NGO Says Taiwan Representative in Nigeria Has No Diplomatic Recognition in Line with One-China Policy

NGO Says Taiwan Representative in Nigeria Has No Diplomatic Recognition in Line with One-China Policy
By: Michael Mike
A non-governmental organization, SINOAFRIK Media Documentation and Development Network, has expressed concern over the misrepresentation of a recent visit by Andy Liu, the Head of the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, to Nigeria’s First Lady, Remi Tinubu as a diplomatic visit.
The organisation, in a press statement on Monday signed by its Executive Director, Austin Maho, said the portrayal of the visit as a diplomatic engagement between Taiwan and Nigeria is misleading and does not reflect the realities of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
SINOAFRIK stated that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the People’s Republic of China, and the Taipei Trade Office in Lagos operates as a non-diplomatic entity. It stressed that Nigeria does not recognize any entity referred to as the “Taiwanese government.”
It added that: “Any implication of bilateral collaboration with such an entity is seen as contradictory to Nigeria’s longstanding foreign policy, which has been grounded in mutual respect for the One-China Principle since its adoption in 1971.”
According to the statement, the One-China Principle asserts that there is only one China, with Taiwan being an integral part of it, and recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. This position is reinforced by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 from 1971, alongside historical documents such as the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation.
SINOAFRIK reiterated that the One-China Principle has been the foundation of Nigeria-China relations for over five decades.
“At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, Nigeria and China elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, where Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China Principle and its opposition to any form of Taiwan independence,” the statement noted.
The organisation pointed out that the People’s Republic of China has been a vital partner in Nigeria’s development, contributing significantly to key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, technology, trade, and human capital development. It said Nigeria is China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade exceeding $20 billion annually.
SINOAFRIK urged the Nigerian media and the public to avoid terms like “Taiwanese Ambassador to Nigeria,” “Taiwanese government,” or “Embassy of Taiwan in Nigeria,” as these terms imply the existence of “two Chinas” and are inconsistent with Nigeria’s foreign policy.
“The media must uphold objectivity, fairness, and accuracy in their reporting,” the statement added.
NGO Says Taiwan Representative in Nigeria Has No Diplomatic Recognition in Line with One-China Policy
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