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ECOWAS Facing Financial Challenges, Must Not Be Overburdened- Justice Asante
ECOWAS Facing Financial Challenges, Must Not Be Overburdened- Justice Asante
By: Michael Mike
The President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, Justice Edward Amoako Asante has lamented that the regional bloc is presently facing financial challenges and must not be overburdened by its institutions.
Some of ECOWAS institutions include ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Community Court of Justice, Community Parliament, West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in West Africa (GIABA).
Speaking at the opening of the 16th
Administrative and Budget retreat of ECOWAS Court in Nasarawa State, near Abuja, Asante said with the financial challenges facing the community, it is imperative that it resources should not be overburdened.
He said: “We must all know that the Community is now financially weak and therefore we do not have to overburden the Community itself.”
He however said despite these constraints, the Court remain committed to its mandate, stating, “We still have to do our programmes to let people know that the Court is also performing its function.”
He acknowledged the essential role that budgetary allocations play in the functioning of the ECOWAS Court, stressing that: “We know budgetary issues are very important for every institution since that is the mainstay.”
He highlighted the comprehensive effort made to collate inputs from all departments and units, ensuring that the proposed budget reflects the diverse needs and priorities of the entire court.
However, the President underscored the financial challenges facing the community, cautioning against overburdening its resources.
“We must all know that the Community is now financially weak and therefore we do not have to overburden the Community itself,” he noted.
Addressing the high administrative and operational costs that constitute a significant portion of the Court’s budget, the President pointed out that approximately 80 percent of the budget is dedicated to these expenses, leaving limited funds for planned activities.
In a call for collective wisdom and strategic planning, Justice Asante urged all participants to contribute thoughtfully to the budget discussions. “We have to be able to judge all and put our heads together to come up with the best budget which when presented to the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) and to the Council of Ministers, they will look at it as a very good budget and approve it for us,” he said.
He expressed the Court’s intention to advocate for the preservation of its budget, highlighting its reliance on community funding.
Asante while declaring the Administrative and Budget retreat opened, invited participants to engage in productive dialogue and decision-making.
He said: “Without taking much of our time, I will declare the budget, and administration retreat open”.
The retreat is expected to foster thoughtful discussions, open dialogues, and constructive debates, leveraging the collective wisdom, diverse perspectives, and shared experiences of the attendees.
On his part, the Director of Administration and Finance, Dr. William Towah expressed full confidence that the retreat will pave the way for innovative solutions, inspire new ideas, and renew the sense of purpose within the Community Court of Justice.
Presenting the objectives and the expectations of the retreat, Towah emphasized the retreat’s significance as a platform to assess the Court’s progress and strategize for the future.
He commended the collective dedication and diligence of the Court’s members, which have propelled the institution to new heights, upholding the rule of law. “Our collective efforts have earned the respect and trust of our stakeholders, creating a positive impact on the lives of those we serve”, he stated.
Acknowledging the challenges that persist, he highlighted the importance of continuous improvement. He called for a critical assessment of the Court’s shortcoming and the identification of areas for enhancement.
He said: “By embracing these challenges, we can further strengthen our foundation and ensure that the Court remains a beacon of justice and fairness.”
The annual Administrative and Budget retreat was attended by the Honorable Vice President, judges, directors including and relevant staff of the Court.
ECOWAS Facing Financial Challenges, Must Not Be Overburdened- Justice Asante
NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books going to Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said the cocaine consignment consisting of 20 parcels with a total weight of 500 grammes and buried in the pages of the religious books was uncovered at a courier company in Lagos last Tuesday when NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) were searching through export cargos going to Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.
Babafemi said at another courier company same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilogrammes hidden in a carton coming from the United States of America.
In Kano, a 22-year-old alleged supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi – Kano road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with Sellotape.
He was intercepted on Sunday 13th April, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30 kilogrammes.
He said not less than 557.2 kilogrammes of skunk, 5.6 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 29.8 grammes of heroin were recovered from a house along Major General Isaiah Alllison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises last Wednesday
Babafemi said the four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46, while a total of 1,100 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from a delivery van with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi arrested in Surulere area of Lagos last Thursday.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives last Friday raided the hideout of a suspect, Ike Ani, 30, in Zaria, where no fewer than 31,950 pills of tramadol 225mg and diazepam were recovered, and in Kebbi, along Bagudo road on the same day a vehicle loaded with bags of charcoal coming from Malabil, Benin Republic was intercepted, when the vehicle was search, 97 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in the sacks of charcoal was recovered.
. Three suspects: Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was nabbed with 11.5 kilogrammes skunk at Abatete, Anambra state while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun state last Tuesday arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of black currant, cannabis and opioids recovered from her room at Dada estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.
Babafemi said two cannabis farms in Egbeta forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state were raided by NDLEA operatives who destroyed 3,717.8625 kilogrammes of the psychoactive plant on 1.487145 hectares and recovered 136.5 kilogrammes of processed cannabis.
At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, a suspect Basorun Kayode, 40, who has been at large for two years was arrested by NDLEA officers in connection with the seizure of 107 kilogrammes Loud imported from Canada in 2023, while another suspect, Dauda Yakubu who distributes illicit drugs within the seaport community was arrested by a team of operatives last Monday.
The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of DOGI, Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Osun, Zone 13, Edo and Tin-can commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books
Fire Guts Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
A devastating fire broke out at the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno Local Government Area (LGA) on April 19, 2025, destroying approximately one hundred thatch and makeshift houses.
Eye witnesses said that the fire started at around 1040hrs and rapidly spread across the settlement, burning household items, foodstuffs, and other valuable properties to ashes.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and the value of the property destroyed is still being assessed.
Humanitarian officials were immediately deployed to the scene to maintain crowd control and prevent looting, while firefighters, alongside camp residents, worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames.
Fortunately, no casualties or loss of life were reported.
Fire Guts Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno, Borno
Terrorists Snatch Vehicle in Monguno, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed assailants suspected to be members of ISWAP/Boko Haram attacked and snatched a vehicle in Monguno Local Government Area (LGA) on April 18, 2025, at about 1400hrs.
Saleh Haun, a resident of the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno, reported that while he was at the Gumnari Bush Area in Monguno, four armed gunmen, riding on two motorcycles, accosted him.
The assailants, at gunpoint, seized his white Toyota Land Cruiser, before fleeing with the vehicle to an unknown location.
A Military Forward Operating Base (FOB) has been alerted, and efforts are underway to to track the assailant and recover the stolen vehicle.
Terrorists Snatch Vehicle in Monguno, Borno
Troops Foil Fresh Violence as Armed Youths Attack Fulani Settlement in Plateau
Senator Donates Relief Materials to Communal Clash Deceases Families in Jigawa
NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books
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