News
ECOWAS Court Waits on Council of Head of States for Enforcement of Court’s Judgments
ECOWAS Court Waits on Council of Head of States for Enforcement of Court’s Judgments
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court said it is waiting on the Commission’s Council of Head of States to put in place sanctions that would ensure members of the sub regional bloc enforce the judgments of the court.
Many who believe the court has taken giant strides in taking informed decisions on cases brought before it especially in area of violation of human rights in member countries, however lamented that the non-enforcement of the decisions have been the major challenges.
Answering questions from journalists on the sidelines of the Annual Judges Retreat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court on Thursday in Suleja, Niger State, the Chief Registrar of the Court, Chief Registrar of ECOWAS Court, Dr.Yaouza Ouro-Sama said: “Supplementary Act of 2012 have defined legal regime of sanctions for member states that have not been complying with court decisions but as you know within the legal framework of ECOWAS, it is only the council of head of states that takes decisions especially sanctions against member states and we just got an opportunity to present the status of enforcement before council of ministers and we are yet to do a second presentation, in December I believe the council of ministers would take it up to the council of head of states and would take a decision to ensure member states enforce our decisions.”
He argued that the court has been effectively as notable decisions have been made and that the forced.
He said: “Some of the judgments of the court are enforced by the community institutions. It is one thing to pronounce a judgment and another thing to get it enforced.
“We are making a lot of efforts to sensitize member states and community institutions so that the rate of enforcement of court decisions will increase, but I can tell you that within the last two years we have noticed significant increase of the rate of judgments of the court. We believe by continuing in that trend of engaging member states and community institutions we would get most of our decisions enforced.”
The President of the Court, Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves who declared open the Retreat while acknowledging that this is the first Judges’s retreat, after the judicial one organized by the new Management since its election, said the objectives of the retreat is to consider and validate a number of draft texts that are essential to the smooth operation of the Court.
He said: The Honourable Judges will discuss and validate the draft strategy on arbitration, amendment proposals on the Protocols of the Court, the draft Instructions to the Chief Registrar and Practice direction, and finally proposed Policies on contract and Library.”
He called on all participants for an active participation in order to ensure that the sessions are interactive, and asked for the setting up of a Committee saddled with the responsibility of following up on the implementation of recommendations from the Judges’ retreats and subsequent brief the Management periodically.”
ECOWAS Court Waits on Council of Head of States for Enforcement of Court’s Judgments
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Zamfara says its operatives have recovered 15 cows rustled by armed bandits during an attack on Gidan Kwagiri village in Damba District of Gusau Local Government Area.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 when the bandits invaded the community and carted away cows and sheep belonging to residents.
According to the sources, upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Damba Division mobilised personnel alongside patrol teams from the Department of Operations to pursue the attackers.
The team was said to have successfully recovered 15 cows, which were subsequently handed over to their owners.
Efforts, however, are ongoing to track down the suspects and recover the remaining rustled animals, while security patrols have been intensified in the area to forestall further attacks.
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested suspects linked to cattle rustling in Benue State, following two separate security incidents in Guma Local Government Area.
Security sources said that on Feb. 15, troops responded to an attack on herders at Amua Village, located between Daudu and Umenger/Ukpiam. The attack left one herder dead, while another sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to Keana in neighbouring Nasarawa State for urgent medical attention. The remains of the deceased were handed over to community representatives for burial according to local customs.
In a related operation on the same day, troops stationed at Ukpiam acted on intelligence provided by vigilant youths concerning suspected cattle rustling. The troops arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Terngu Aondohemba, who reportedly confessed to killing two cattle belonging to Fulani herders. He also implicated two accomplices, Akpehe and Ashinge, who are still at large.
Further investigation led security operatives to Korje Village in Daudu, where Mrs. Mercy Onban, wife of the alleged buyer of the stolen meat, was apprehended along with the recovered meat exhibits. Both suspects remain in custody pending further investigation.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, condemned the attacks and criminality, affirming the commitment of Operation WHIRL STROKE to halting killings and cattle rustling in the Joint Operations Area.
He urged community leaders to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, stressing that timely intelligence sharing is critical to restoring lasting peace. Major General Gara also reassured law-abiding residents of the strong resolve of the Joint Task Force to protect lives and property across the region.
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Government has charged former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents showed that El-Rufai, 65, appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on Feb. 13, 2026, where he reportedly admitted to involvement in the interception and to knowing individuals who carried out the act without reporting them to security agencies.
The charges, filed under TABU DET CR/99/2026, include: Count One, Allegedly admitting during the television interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, contrary to Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two, Allegedly stating that he knew individuals who unlawfully intercepted the same communications but failed to report them, in violation of Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. Count Three, Allegedly using technical systems to compromise public safety and national security, and instilling apprehension among Nigerians, in breach of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The case, filed by a team of Federal Government lawyers led by ME Ernest, OM Owan, UM Bulla, CS Eze, and VE G. Orubor, is set to proceed with investigations and trial proceedings.
Authorities said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, where the accused will be required to respond to the charges.
The trial is expected to attract significant public attention given the high-profile nature of the accused and the sensitive security issues involved.
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
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Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
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