Fagbemi Calls for Appellate Mechanism in ECOWAS Court

…Insists Absence of Appellate Court at Regional Level Undermines Access to Justice

By: Michael Mike

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has called for the establishment of an appellate mechanism within the ECOWAS Court of Justice, stating that the absence of such mechanism continued to undermine access to justice in the region.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 legal year of ECOWAS Court, Fagbemi said while the finality of judgments is crucial, fairness also demands that decisions be open to review in order to correct possible errors of law or procedure.

Fagbemi while noting that the absence of appellate court at the regional level is a letdown, said: “It is concerning that there is currently inadequate room for appeal against the judgments of the ECOWAS Court. While finality is important, justice must also be seen to be fair and revisable,” insisting that: “The absence of a separate appellate mechanism limits access to justice. As we expand the Court’s reach, we must also ensure that its decisions are subject to the same standards of review and accountability that underpin robust judicial systems.”

He urged the Court to draw lessons from other regional judicial institutions such as the European Court of Human Rights, the East African Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which, according to him, offer valuable models of transparency, judicial independence and procedural innovation.

He however restated Nigeria’s support for the ECOWAS Court as host country, describing it as central to regional integration, human rights enforcement and stability. “Nigeria remains steadfast in its support for the ECOWAS Court of Justice… I pledge to continue advocating for legal reforms that align domestic laws with regional obligations while respecting our constitutional order and national interests,” Fagbemi added.

Also speaking, the President of Cabo Verde, José Neves, said community justice remains vital for Africa’s credibility in global affairs. He stressed that strengthening institutions such as the ECOWAS Court was essential for peace, democracy and integration on the continent.

He said: “In a continent still marked by border disputes and recurring tensions, the existence of an independent and respected community tribunal is a civilisational triumph that we must preserve and enhance,” Neves said. He noted that access to the Court by individual citizens was one of the most significant gains of regional integration, as it brings justice closer to the people.

Neves also called for reforms within African sub-regional bodies to make them more effective in addressing contemporary challenges such as insecurity, institutional fragility, migration and climate change.

In his address, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Goncalves, disclosed that the Court handled 34 new cases in the past year, including matters relating to civil and political rights, economic freedoms, and disputes between member states.

He also revealed that the Court held 79 judicial sessions and issued 54 rulings, many of which reaffirmed key principles such as the justiciability of socio-economic rights and the supremacy of community law over conflicting national legislation. According to him, 112 cases are currently pending before the Court.

Fagbemi Calls for Appellate Mechanism in ECOWAS Court

Tear gas canister explosion injures four siblings in Kano

By: Zagazola Makama

Four siblings have sustained injuries following the explosion of a tear gas canister at Bakin Kwata, Sharada area of Kano metropolis.

Zagazola report that the incident, which occurred at about 7:50 a.m. on Wednesday, was confirmed by the Kano State Police Command in a statement.

It said the explosion produced heavy smoke, burning sensation, and choking irritation, prompting the Bomb Disposal Unit to cordon off the area for safety and conduct post-blast investigation.

One of the victims, Khadeeja Rabiu, 17, sustained serious injuries on her right hand and other parts of her body, while her siblings Fatima, 15, Alamin, 11, and Suleiman, 3 sustained minor bruises. All were taken to Murtala Muhammed Hospital for treatment.

During investigation, police recovered the handle, safety lock pin and rotating guard of a tear gas canister, with strong peppery odour still perceived at the scene.

Findings revealed that the canister had been scavenged from a nearby refuse dump and brought home by one of the children, where it later exploded in the hand of Khadeeja.

Authorities said the garbage site was further screened for possible hazardous materials, and the community sensitised on the dangers of picking unknown objects from refuse dumps.

The post-blast investigation ended peacefully at about 12:15 p.m.

Tear gas canister explosion injures four siblings in Kano

KACRAN president says oil boom led Nigeria to neglect agriculture

By: Yahaya Wakili

The National President of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello, has revealed that the oil boom led Nigeria to neglect the agricultural sector, of which livestock is an integral part.

Hon. Khalil Bello started this at the National Conference on the Farmers-Herders Conflict History. Causes and context:How it can be amicably resolved, organized by Lje Nigeria at the Yar Adua Center, Abuja. Which was made available to Newsng in Damaturu.

He said historically, our pastoralist traditions have been rooted in social harmony, and even before the colonial era and up to this day, wherever a Fulani pastoralist moves in search of animal feed and water, first we visit the traditional ruler of that area to seek permission to move on.

Khalil maintained that Fulani people are highly social and intermingle freely with any community, and they are ready to accept any person in the country, regardless of their tribe or religion, and they make a conscious effort to learn the languages of the communities they live with.

“The historical roots of the conflict between the farmers and herders and the challenges we face today are a stark contrast to our past. In the pre-colonial and past colonial eras up to the first republic, pastoralism was at its highest peak, and during this nostalgic period, there were ample grazing areas and water points across the northern region,” Bello said.

Hon. Khalil Bello further said the last administration’s policies, which closed our borders and distributed billions of naira to farmers, led to the blind and furious encroachment on and blockage of almost all cattle routes, and this painful action has endangered the livestock sector and is the primary cause of the current conflict.

“The current conflict, however, is a result of broken and grazed reserves converted to farmland, and herders have been left with no option but to move to states like Benue and Plateau, which cannot contain them, and then to the Southern part of the country, and this movement, where there is no availability of land, forces them to enter and destroy people’s farms, leading to fighting and the loss of lives and properties.

Hon. Bello enumerated solutions based on their research to bringan end to this conflict. Reclaim and revitalize grazing reserves: Northern governors must face reality by reclaiming all reclaimable grazing reserves. Restore blocked cattle routes. Northern governors must reclaim all blocked cattle routes that were blocked for farming expansion and not for development projects.

Others include enforcing accountability and justice; pastoralists must stop destroying people’s farms and must compensate farmers for any accidental destruction. Similarly, farmers must stop encroaching on grazing reserves and blocking cattle routes. To promote dialogue and forgiveness, the cycle of violence must be broken through dialogue with all herders, and the government should also confiscate all guns and weapons from both bandits and vigilantes.

 Empower Affected Communities: Paying ransom to those who have lost their loved ones, livestock, and business is crucial to helping them start a new life. The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support project (L-PRES) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development should be encouraged and supported by our government to revive the 417 grazing reserves in the country.

KACRAN president says oil boom led Nigeria to neglect agriculture