News
Republic of Togo Violates the Right to Fair Trial of a former ASKY Airlines Pilot, ECOWAS Court Rules

Republic of Togo Violates the Right to Fair Trial of a former ASKY Airlines Pilot, ECOWAS Court Rules
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has held that the Republic of Togo violated Mr. Al-Hassan Dibassi Fadia’s right to a fair trial under Article 7(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 1981.
Fadia, a former pilot with ASKY Airlines, claimed that Togo violated his human rights through disciplinary measures taken against him by ANAC-Togo, the national civil aviation authority of Togo, following accusations of falsifying flight records.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the Court and judge rapporteur in the case, the Court ordered the Republic of Togo to pay 15 million CFA francs in general damages to Fadia.
The Court also ordered Togo to reverse and expunge the disciplinary measures from its official records.
In an application filed with the ECOWAS Court in 2023, Mr. Al-Hassan Fadia, a pilot formerly employed by ASKY Airlines, said that he passed the practical test for the Airline Transport Pilot License for Aeroplanes in France in 2019 and was duly issued a French ATPL(A) pilot license, which he converted to a Guinea-Bissau ATPL(A) license. ANAC-Togo, the civil aviation authority in Togo, validated his Guinea-Bissau license for use with ASKY Airlines.
After further training, the Applicant said that he was promoted to captain with ASKY Airlines in November 2020. However, shortly afterward, ANAC-Togo accused him and two other pilots of falsifying flight records to obtain their licenses.
Following proceedings before the Disciplinary Board of ANAC-Togo, Mr. Fadia’s license to fly as captain was withdrawn, and he was required to resume further tutelage as a “Pilot in Command under Supervision” (PICUS). ASKY Airlines subsequently terminated his employment.
In his application to the Court, Fadia argued that the disciplinary measures taken against him by the Togolese civil aviation authorities violated his right to equality and equal protection of the law, his right to a fair trial, and his right to work.
In its defence, the Republic of Togo stated that during the validation of a French ATPL(A) license for ASKY pilot Mr. Aurelien Rami, ANAC-Togo found irregularities in his flight records, prompting an investigation into the files of other ASKY Airline pilots. The investigation revealed that Captain Andriamora, Chief Pilot at ASKY, conspired with Mr. Rami and Mr. Fadia to fraudulently obtain their licenses by falsifying flight logbook entries. It is for these reasons that disciplinary measures were taken against the Applicant.
The Respondent, therefore, maintained that all actions taken were lawful and urged the Court to dismiss the application as unfounded.
In its judgment, the Court found that the offences for which Fadia was tried at the Disciplinary Board and the sanctions imposed were enacted under Ministerial Order No. 033/2021/MTRAF of 29 July 2021, after he had been accused of falsifying records in his flight logbook.
The Court, therefore, concluded that the disciplinary measures violated the protection against retroactive application of laws under Article 7(2) of the African Charter.
However, the Court concluded that the link between Fadia’s dismissal by ASKY Airlines and the alleged breach of his right to work by the Republic of Togo was not convincingly established. Nor was the Applicant able to show that he had been subjected to unjustifiably selective treatment in violation of his right to equality and equal protection of the law, given that he was subjected to the same disciplinary measures as his co-accused pilots.
The panel included Hon. Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara and Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma.
Republic of Togo Violates the Right to Fair Trial of a former ASKY Airlines Pilot, ECOWAS Court Rules
News
Nigerian Workers Abandoned in CAR Get Succour at Nigerian Embassy

Nigerian Workers Abandoned in CAR Get Succour at Nigerian Embassy
…Reps Committee Begins Probe of Incident
By: Michael Mike
The stranded Nigerians in Central Africa Republic CAR have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.
It will be recalled that through a viral video, some Nigerian miners called for help, which elicited immediate intervention from officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security who accompanied them from their location to the capital.
The journey to Bangui took a number of days with the Nigerians, alleged victims of a Chinese National and a Nigerian agent who hired them for work in that country and abandoned them there without paying their renumeration for 11 months,
A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun said obviously traumatised, weak and distressed, they (the stranded Nigerians) had called for help to be rescued.
He said: “They are now in the safe hands of officials of the Nigerian Embassy who will arrange their return back home.”
He added that: “They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and staff of both countries , the Nigerian Embassy, the CAR Security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories.
“The agent who lured them into the job scam, is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted .”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has launched a thorough investigation into a viral video depicting some Nigerians in the Central African Republic (CAR) alleging abandonment and passport seizure by a Nigerian businessman, purportedly linked to a Chinese company.
A statement released to the press and signed by the committee’s Chairman, Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu, assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to uncover the truth behind the allegations.
The statement read: The Committee regrets the unfortunate situation the Nigerian workers are being subjected to in CAR and assures that a comprehensive investigation is currently ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to their ordeal.”
The Committee clarified that Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman accused in the video, has refuted the allegations of passport seizure, unpaid salaries, and abandonment. It further stressed that Ademola is not affiliated with the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce.
It added that: “His (Ademola’s) actions or inactions should not be linked to the embassy or Chinese enterprises doing their legitimate businesses in Nigeria.”
The committee stated that China-Nigeria relations have flourished over time, yielding significant results across key sectors, including trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, human capital development, and people-to-people partnerships.
It urged the media and the public to report on China-Nigeria relations in a fair, balanced, and truthful manner, reflecting the mutual solidarity between the two nations.
End
News
Odumegwu-Ojukwu in Ghana to Douse Ongoing Tension

Odumegwu-Ojukwu in Ghana to Douse Ongoing Tension
…Insists Nigeria Remains Committed to Better Nigeria-Ghana Relations
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria has finally began the move to douse the ongoing tension with Ghana over the growing agitation by Ghanaians that Nigerians should leave their country, as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining robust relations with Ghana during a visit.
The Minister also said the relationship would not stop at government level but extend to citizen-to-citizen level.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu made this known on Wednesday during her ongoing two-day visit to the West African country.
According to a statement by the spokesman to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Eze, his principal is in Ghana to address the situation of Nigeria-Ghana citizens’ relations and meet with relevant stakeholders at both ends including the President of Ghana, the country’s Foreign Minister, traditional rulers and Nigerians resident in the country, to ensure that the life, property and businesses of Nigeria and Nigerians living in Ghana are safe and protected.
Eze said: “As part of the engagements for the minister, a few minutes after touching down at Kotoka Accra International Airport, Ghana on Tuesday evening, she had a quick interface with the Inspector General of Police Ghana, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who was on his way to London, United Kingdom.”
He disclosed that Odumegwu-Ojukwu continued similar engagements on Wednesday with Ghanian officials and leaders of the Nigeria community.
She is expected back to Abuja on Thursday.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu in Ghana to Douse Ongoing Tension
News
Tinubu Appoints Adeyemi as New CG, Federal Fire Service

Tinubu Appoints Adeyemi as New CG, Federal Fire Service
By: Michael Mike
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi as the new substantive Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) with effect from 14th August, 2025.
The appointment was announced in a statement by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), signed by its secretary, Abdulmalik Jibrin.
The statement read: “This appointment follows the imminent retirement of the current Controller-General, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji Olola, on 1th August, 2025, upon attaining the age of sixty.
“DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having transferred his service from the FCT Fire Service to the Federal Fire Service and grown to the rank of Deputy Controller-General of Fire in the Human Resource Directorate of the Service Headquarters.
“In the course of his career, the Officer has attended and passed all mandatory In-Service trainings, command course as well as other courses within and outside the country.
“He has served in various capacities and is equally a member/fellow of the following professional associations including Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria.
“The Board extends its appreciation to the retiring Controller-General, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji Olola for his remarkable contributions to the development of the Federal Fire Service while also acknowledging his dedication and commitment to the service, and the numerous initiatives he spearheaded during his period of service.”
Tinubu Appoints Adeyemi as New CG, Federal Fire Service
-
News1 year ago
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year ago
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year ago
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year ago
A History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year ago
Tinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics2 months ago
2027: Why Hon. Midala Balami Must Go, as Youths in Hawul and Asikira/Uba Federal Constituency Reject ₦500,000 as Sallah Gift