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ECOWAS Court Dismissed SERAP’s Case Prosecuted by Falana against FG

Published

5 years ago

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Malami

 

The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has dismissed six year application (ECW/CCJ/JUD/08/21) filed by the registered trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government.

In a judgment which was delivered on 26th April, 2021 the Court which was presided over by Hon. Justice Edward Amoaka ASANTE comprising two other members including Hon. Justice Gberi-Be OUTATTARA and Hon. Justice Januaria T. Silva Moreira COSTA declared the application inadmissible.

SERAP through its solicitors; Olufunmilola Falana (Mrs) Esq, Olusola Egbeyinka, Esq of Falana and Falana Chambers had on 4th April, 2016 filed an application at the ECOWAS against “violation of human rights of Nigerians and other individuals”.

Such rights according to the applicants included the rights to life, to security of the human persons, to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and right of property, guaranteed by Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 14 of the African Charter, Articles 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 2 and 6(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Federal Government solicitors; T.A Gazali,SAN and Adedayo Ogundele, Esq all of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja advanced responses ranging from:

(a) Denying committing any violation against some groups,

(b) Settlement of compensation, and

(C) Contention that most of the issues were either settled, or at the appeal courts for further interpretation and final resolution.

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The Court further maintained that even where jurisdiction of Court is established, according to Article 10(d) of the Supplementary Protocol of the Court as amended, an application whose subject matter concerns human rights violation shall only be admissible when three criteria are met: the Applicant’s status as “victims” must be established, the non-anonymity of the application and the absence of litis pendence before another international Court or Tribunal.

According to the judgment:
“The Applicant having purportedly initiated the instant action on behalf of a community or group which lacks proper identification, Applicant’s locus standing in the matter cannot be sustained to admit the case for determination.

“Consequently, the action cannot be admitted under such a fatal capacity of the Applicant and same is dismissed in its entirety”.

“It must be further observed that the Applicant NGO has not been directly affected by the alleged violations, therefore it does not fulfill the requirement of being a victim on its own right”.

The Court judgment further stated that “the only ground to admit the case is on proof of the action being action popularis. However, the principles of public interest litigation and action popularis appear non-applicable to this case since the rights complained of, such as the right to life, to property, etc which primarily belongs to the victims and may only be claimed by them or their next-of-kins where necessary, have not been succinctly linked to the general public interest contemplated in the context of an action popularis.

“In the instant case, all the communities or groups on whose behalf the action is purportedly initiated to vindicate any alleged violations of their rights have themselves already taken various legal steps to remedy any wrongs if any.

The applicant case fails to clearly establish any community or groups whose public interest is allegedly breached and needs vindication as claimed,” the Court declared.

Responding to the development, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami described the judgment as a clear vindication of the Federal Government’s efforts towards respecting human rights and international conventions.

In a statement by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami said the judgment has saved Nigeria from payment of billons of Nigeria’s naira for bogus claims.

Malami renewed the commitment of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and that of the Federal Government to protecting the rights of citizens in ramifications as well as protecting the public interest in the discharge of constitutionally recognized mandate.

 

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Abuja Federal High Court Sentences Three Suspects in Oyo Abduction to Life Imprisonment

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11 minutes ago

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July 23, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects to life imprisonment for their roles in the Oriire kidnapping case after finding them guilty of concealing information about the masterminds of the abduction.

The convicts had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them by the Federal Government, admitting their involvement during the court proceedings.

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The court convicted them after they confessed to withholding information about those behind the kidnapping in Oriire, Oyo State.

The three defendants pleaded guilty before Justice Salem Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja to concealing information about the masterminds of the Oriire school kidnapping in Oyo State.

They also admitted being members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru.

In addition, the first and third defendants, Abdulrazak Umar and Shamsudin Adamu, pleaded guilty to providing training and instructions as well as inciting members of their WhatsApp group, “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” to engage in acts of terrorism.

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Breaking: President Tinubu Approves Establishment of Four New Divisions of the Nigerian Army, Bringing the Total to 12

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4 hours ago

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July 23, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.

This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.

The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.

Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:

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1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).

The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.

Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.

President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga Special adviser to the President on informational and strategy said the President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.

 

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Kano Online Media Chapel Honours Gov Abba Yusuf with Excellence Award

Published

8 hours ago

on

July 23, 2026

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The Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday honoured the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his administration’s unwavering support for the media profession and commitment to strengthening journalism in the state.
The award presentation ceremony was held at the Council Chamber, Government House, Kano, in the presence of members of the Kano State Executive Council and other senior government officials.
The honour was conferred on Governor Yusuf in appreciation of his administration’s sustained partnership with the Kano Online Media Chapel, particularly for facilitating the training of more than 50 online journalists on modern and ethical news reporting, digital journalism, fact-checking, and emerging media technology

Receiving the award, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf expressed gratitude to the Kano Online Media Chapel for the recognition, describing it as an encouragement to do more in advancing media development in the state.
The Governor commended members of the Chapel for their professionalism and contributions to promoting truth, public awareness, and responsible journalism. He pledged that his administration would continue to support the Nigeria Union of Journalists and other media organisations through capacity-building initiatives and policies that strengthen the journalism profession.
Governor Yusuf also urged journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession by ensuring accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in their reports, emphasizing that credible journalism remains essential to good governance, peace, and sustainable development.

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Presenting the award, the Chairman of the Kano Online Media Chapel, NUJ, Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo, said the recognition was a reflection of Governor Yusuf’s outstanding contributions to media development and his administration’s consistent support for journalists.
Dangambo noted that the Governor’s investment in capacity building has equipped members of the Chapel with modern reporting skills, enabling them to meet the evolving demands of digital journalism while promoting professionalism, accuracy, and ethical reporting.
He expressed appreciation to the Governor for recognising the critical role of online media in promoting transparency, public enlightenment, and democratic governance, describing the award as a symbol of gratitude from journalists who have directly benefited from the administration’s media-friendly policies.

 

Earlier speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, commended the Kano Online Media Chapel for its dedication to promoting responsible journalism and professional excellence. He described the media as an indispensable partner in democratic governance, stressing that credible and ethical reporting remains vital to informing the public and supporting government accountability.

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