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Sanctions Against Niger, ECOWAS Court Fixes December 7 for Ruling on Legality
Sanctions Against Niger, ECOWAS Court Fixes December 7 for Ruling on Legality
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice will on December 7, 2023 deliver its ruling on interim measures in a case between the State of Niger and seven others, and the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and two others.
The Court fixed the date after hearing both parties during its sitting held on Monday, November 21, 2023 at its Seat in Abuja/
At the hearing, the applicants represented by their lawyers Mr Moukaila Yaye and five others argued that the sanctions imposed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS have adverse effect on the Nigerien people including shortage of food, medicine and electricity, due to the closure of borders and cut off of electricity supply by Nigeria.
They asked the Court for interim court orders that will compel the Authority of Heads of State and Government to immediately suspend the sanctions.
They said that the respondents overreacted by imposing the sanctions which were not successive, and that Niger was treated unequally and unfairly compared to the other three member states (Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea) that also experienced coup d’état in recent years.
The applicants also asked the Court to declare its competence to examine the case and declare the application admissible in accordance with the Court’s texts.
The respondents namely the Authority of Heads of State, the Mediation and Security Council, and the ECOWAS Commission represented by Mr François Kanga-Penond raised an objection of inadmissibility of the application and asked the Court to reject the request of the applicants.
Kanga-Penond told the Court that coup d’état was not recognised in a democracy and that the junta does not have legal capacity to bring a case before the Court adding that, the democratically elected President has a pending case before the Court in which he is challenging the legitimacy of this same junta.
He emphasised that the lack of legal capacity of the junta to approach the Court restraints the Court from examining their request for interim measures.
In the initiating application, the applicants – the State of Niger, six Nigerien organisations and a Nigerien national asked the Court to declare the measures taken by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS during its extraordinary sessions of July 30 and August 10, 2023, allegedly aimed at restoring constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, illegal.
They requested the Court to nullify all decisions of these ECOWAS organs imposing sanctions, including the decision to resort to military intervention in the Republic of Niger.
The panel of three judges on the bench is composed of: Hon. Judge Edward Amoako Asante, President, Hon. Judge Gbéri-bè Ouattara, Judge Rapporteur/Member
Hon. Judge Dupe Atoki, Member.
Sanctions Against Niger, ECOWAS Court Fixes December 7 for Ruling on Legality
Security forces foil kidnapping attempt at Government Girls’ College in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces have foiled an attempted kidnapping at Government Girls’ College in Bauchi, Bauchi State, in the early hours of Saturday, sources said.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 4:42 a.m. on March 15 when unidentified persons attempted to gain entry into the school premises through the fence near the staff quarters.
Security personnel on guard duty, supported by a patrol team, responded swiftly to the situation. On sighting the approaching officers, the suspected kidnappers abandoned their mission and fled the area.
The development caused brief panic within the school as students raised alarm and ran within the premises. However, no student was harmed or molested during the incident.
Police said the situation has been brought under control, while the school premises remain under close surveillance. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspects.
Security forces foil kidnapping attempt at Government Girls’ College in Bauchi
Man rescued by security forced after abduction in Fika, suspects flee
By: Zagazola Makama
A 35-year-old man, Haruna Abdul, was rescued unhurt after being abducted from his residence in Fali Village, Gashinge, Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, security sources confirmed on Monday.
The incident, which occurred on March 14, involved unknown assailants armed with bows, arrows, and matches, who reportedly invaded Abdul’s home and forcibly abducted him.
During the attempted transport of the victim to an undisclosed location, police and vigilante groups promptly pursued the kidnappers to Gubana in Fune LGA, Yobe State.
The kidnappers reportedly abandoned Abdul along with a seized motorcycle, described as kasere red in color without registration number, before fleeing into the bush.
The victim has since been reunited with his family, while authorities continue efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects for prosecution.
Man rescued by security forced after abduction in Fika, suspects flee
Stray bullet injures man in Tsafe following dispute involving military personnel
By: Zagazola Makama
A 38-year-old man sustained gunshot injuries in Tsafe Township, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, after a misunderstanding involving a military personnel attached to Operation FANSAN YANMA.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. on March 14 in the Sahara area when the military personnel, who was in possession of a serviceable rifle, attempted to apprehend one of several youths from Sabon Fegi area.
According to sources , the youths resisted and overpowered the soldier, who reportedly fired his rifle to escape. A stray bullet hit a passerby, identified as Abdulrazak Abdullahi Kayode, in the stomach.
The injured man was initially taken to General Hospital Tsafe before being referred to Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, for further treatment.
Sources said the situation has been brought under control, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Residents have been urged to remain calm while authorities look into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Stray bullet injures man in Tsafe following dispute involving military personnel
Security forces foil kidnapping attempt at Government Girls’ College in Bauchi
Man rescued by security forced after abduction in Fika, suspects flee
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