ECOWAS court records highest number of Judgment, ruling in…

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, on July 12,2019, said that the court recorded the highest number of judgments and rulings in 2018/2019 legal year.

The President of the Court, Justice Edward Asante, disclosed this at the end of 12th Administration and Budget Retreat held in Goshen city, Nasarawa state.

He said that since the inception of the court, the court recorded 28 judgments and eight rulings, which were the highest the court had ever recorded.

“Many more people have come to the court, it used to be an inter-state court, so therefore, at that time there were no cases, and just two cases were filed.

“But since they opened the court for individuals to have access to, the court has been flooded with so many cases and we are doing our best.

He said that its budget in the previous years was cut by five percent, saying that it has increased the 2020 budget by the same five percent.

According to him, the increase will be used for training staff, especially those in the research section, because there is a need for a library to enhance the activities of the court.

Speaking on the implementation of judgment by members state, the Judge said only five members state has appointed execution authorities to enforce implementation.

Asante said that even though Nigeria was among the countries yet to appoint executive authority, they are enforcing some of the judgments and rulings.

According to him, they have gotten reports from the parties that Nigeria is already paying some compensation from some judgments.

Asante said that it had issues with the laid-off contract staff and promised to appeal to the Council of Ministers to retain the staff they have on the ground so that work can progress.

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice commenced vacation on July 15, to resume on Sept. 15.

source: Guardian.ng

ECOWAS COURT FIXES 30TH OCTOBER 2019 TO DECIDE CASE…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has fixed the 30^th October 2019 to deliver Judgment in an administrative case brought by a former ECOWAS Staff, Mr. Babatunde Adeyemo, against the West African Power Pool (WAPP) over his wrongful dismissal about two years ago by WAPP, a specialized agency of the Community.

The Court had earlier overruled the preliminary objection of the defence counsel, Mr. Raul Houngbedi, that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit, that the plaintiff had not exhausted the internal measures for seeking redress before approaching the court and that the plaintiff had not proved the actions taken against him were inconsistent with the specified procedure.

The plaintiff’s counsel had argued, relying on Article 83 (a), 84 and 85 of the Staff regulation, that the Court had jurisdiction since the Regulation applies to staff of all institutions and agencies of the Community.

WAPP was founded in 1999 as a cooperation of the national electricity companies of West Africa under the auspices of the ECOWAS and working towards the establishment of a reliable power grid for the region and a common market for electricity.

Mr. Adeyemo, a Nigerian/ Community citizen, who was employed on 7^th December 2006 as the Director of WAPP’s Centre for Information Coordination, alleged in suit no ECW/CCJ/APP/31/18 filed on 3 August 2018 that his rights were violated through his abusive/wrongful dismissal from the service of WAPP.

Counsels to the plaintiff, Mr.Baba Body Zakari, Alexis Armand Deguenon and Mr. Ayodeji Tokunbo submitted that Mr. Adeyemo, worked assiduously for 11 years without receiving a query, the only query being for disregarding/having disregard for the Committee of Human Resources and Governance of WAPP during its 12^th meeting/session held in Cotonou in March, 2017.

They alleged that the plaintiff was summoned before a disciplinary committee but denied the opportunity to defend himself and subsequently dismissed for an unfounded motive which was sustained despite various interventions.

They further averred that while the ECOWAS Staff Regulation provided for termination of appointment/dismissal when a serious offence had been committed by a staff, the alleged offence of the plaintiff did not amount to serious offence which was evident from the delay in the query which he received on the 2^nd of May, 2017, two months after the alleged offence and dismissed after three tortuous months.

Among the reliefs sought were a declaration that he was wrongly dismissed; an order for WAPP to pay him damages and interests totaling 2 Million USD for defamation and prejudice suffered following his dismissal; an order for WAPP to pay compensation of three months’ salaries; and an order for WAPP to pay his social contribution for the remaining two years before his normal retirement from service.

The plaintiff also urged the court to fix timelines for the payment of the damages.

Among other things, counsel for the defence had argued that their actions were justified given that the plaintiff’s poor conduct could have adverse effect on the institution and that the procedure did not forestall an extension of suspension while the eventual termination was necessitated by the seriousness of the offence.

They also averred that the plaintiff’s salaries were paid to him until July 2017 as well as his severance package and produced evidence of payment of the entitlements.  In addition, they contended that the plaintiff was given fair hearing as indicated by the correspondences between both parties on the issue of query and his appearance before the disciplinary committee.

Source: ecowas.int

COURT FIXES 28TH JUNE 2019 TO RECEIVE REPORT OF…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has fixed the 28^th of June 2019 to receive the report of a settlement in a case brought against the ECOWAS Commission by one, Mr. Ahounou Ambroise, a citizen of the Republic of Benin alleging the violation of his human rights following the premature termination of his contract by the Commission.

Mr. Ishaku Sambo and Mr. Daouda Fall, representing the Defendant said that although the Commission had filed an application for the extension of time, they had initiated a process for an out of Court settlement with the plaintiff. The defendant added that a committee has been set up on the dispute and therefore pleaded for an adjournment to enable both parties reach an amicable settlement.

Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante, who presided over the three member panel of the Court in the suit, adjourned the case after Counsel to the Plaintiff, Mr. Bertin Amoussou, did not raise any objection to the request by the Defendant.

In the initiating application no ECW/CCJ/APP/26/18 filed before the Court on the 12^th of June 2018, Mr. Ahounou alleged the breach of his contract to provide technical support to the Commission’s Customs Directorate in the conceptualization and realization of the process for the setting up of a regional Customs Union

Relying on the signed contract between both parties and several memoranda, the plaintiff averred that his contract with the ECOWAS Commission was meant to end 31^st August 2018, but terminated on 31^st May 2018 through a letter of the same date.

The plaintiff is demanding the payment of all his entitlements until 31 August 2018, the effective date for the end of his contract with the defendant and the payment of 50 Million CFA Francs as damages.

But the Commission said it acted in line with the provisions of its new Tender Code and the 13th May 2016 Decision of the Community’s Council of Ministers in Dakar while the termination was communicated through a correspondence dated 31^st May 2016 informing the Plaintiff of the termination of the contract with effect from 1^st July 2016.

Also on the panel were Honorable Justices Dupe Atoki and Keikura Bangura.

Source:Ecowas.int

COURT FIXES 28TH JUNE 2019 TO RECEIVE REPORT OF…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has fixed the 28^th of June 2019 to receive the report of a settlement in a case brought against the ECOWAS Commission by one, Mr. Ahounou Ambroise, a citizen of the Republic of Benin alleging the violation of his human rights following the premature termination of his contract by the Commission.

Mr. Ishaku Sambo and Mr. Daouda Fall, representing the Defendant said that although the Commission had filed an application for the extension of time, they had initiated a process for an out of Court settlement with the plaintiff. The defendant added that a committee has been set up on the dispute and therefore pleaded for an adjournment to enable both parties reach an amicable settlement.

Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante, who presided over the three member panel of the Court in the suit, adjourned the case after Counsel to the Plaintiff, Mr. Bertin Amoussou, did not raise any objection to the request by the Defendant.

In the initiating application no ECW/CCJ/APP/26/18 filed before the Court on the 12^th of June 2018, Mr. Ahounou alleged the breach of his contract to provide technical support to the Commission’s Customs Directorate in the conceptualization and realization of the process for the setting up of a regional Customs Union

Relying on the signed contract between both parties and several memoranda, the plaintiff averred that his contract with the ECOWAS Commission was meant to end 31^st August 2018, but terminated on 31^st May 2018 through a letter of the same date.

The plaintiff is demanding the payment of all his entitlements until 31 August 2018, the effective date for the end of his contract with the defendant and the payment of 50 Million CFA Francs as damages.

But the Commission said it acted in line with the provisions of its new Tender Code and the 13th May 2016 Decision of the Community’s Council of Ministers in Dakar while the termination was communicated through a correspondence dated 31^st May 2016 informing the Plaintiff of the termination of the contract with effect from 1^st July 2016.

Also on the panel were Honorable Justices Dupe Atoki and Keikura Bangura.

Source: Ecowas.int

Sierra Leone: Amnesty International joins legal challenge against government…

Amnesty International has joined a legal case brought by two non-governmental organizations, Equality Now and WAVES, to challenge the Sierra Leonean government’s ban on pregnant girls attending mainstream schools and sitting exams.

The announcement was made ahead of a hearing at the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice on 27 June 2019, where the case was initially filed in May 2018.

“We at Amnesty International believe this ban clearly conflicts with the right to education without discrimination, according to international and regional standards,” said Lucy Claridge, Director of Strategic Litigation at Amnesty International.

“Courts from South Africa, Zimbabwe to Colombia have already found that such bans violate the rights of women and girls to be treated equally and to receive education. This case represents the first time that a regional court in Africa has considered the issue. It therefore has the potential to impact the situation of pregnant girls outside of Sierra Leone and even beyond the ECOWAS community.”

Amnesty International has documented how the ban, which was imposed after the Ebola crisis in 2015 by Sierra Leone’s then Minister of Education, put the rights of thousands of girls under threat.

Source:www.amnesty.org

ECOWAS to start cross-border sale of electricity to member…

Member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will commence cross-border sale and distribution of electricity among themselves in 2020, the regional body announced on 25 June,2019.

The Chairman, Regulatory Council of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), Honoré Bogler, disclosed this in Abuja.

Mr Bogler spoke at the ECOWAS Secretariat after the swearing in of the three-man regional regulatory council.

He said the challenge the region is facing was inadequate funding for the huge investments in infrastructure required in the region.

The chairman said his council would reposition the power sector of the sub-region.

“No country in the sub-region has the necessary funding to get electricity to every home in every country.

“That is why the Heads of States and government decided to create a market power pool so that all the potentialities we have in the region, in terms oil, gas, sun, wind – could be harnessed for the benefit of the people.

“The only limitation we fàce to harness these potentialities has been lacking of funds to get these resources working for the population,” Mr Bogler said.

According to him, the Heads of State and government decided to pool all these potentialities so that the huge population of the sub-region would be an attraction for investors, once the investors realise that the electricity that would be produced would be used up by the huge population.

Mr Bogler assured that the people of the region would not be left at the mercy of the operators, particularly on the issue of tariffs, which he said would be a priority of the regulatory council.

The mandate of ERERA, he sàid, is to provide the link between all the interest groups, supervise the effective functioning of the electricity market, by arbitrating on any dispute arising from the arrangement between the operators.

“We think people will have the best price of electricity if we use the regional resources that are cheaper to feed our network. ERERA will monitor and supervise all these to get it running in an organized manner.

“By 2020, the region will be ready for the transmission of power from one country to the other.

“⁴Once that is achieved, we will go into the phase of the plan whereby all the countries in the region would have the opportunity of buying electricity from the market through the regional lines,” he said.

By implication, he said with the entering of the real commercial phase of the project, all interest groups must know there is a regional regulator of the trans-border electricity trade.

Consequently, he said the various groups must realize there is somebody that will work for the interest of everyone; one that will not act in favour of anyone.

“If we want electricity for all, we must invest in the sector. But, we all know that all the countries of the sub-region are going through electricity supply challenges.

“This means that we do not have enough electricity produced in the region. We do not also have the lines for transmission from one country to the other over the borders, even if we generate enough electricity.”

On the huge investments required to attract investors, he said the council was optimistic to exploit the advantages of the big market in the region due to the large population since the investors want returns on their investments.

A member of the regulatory council, Haliru Dikko, said he was also optimistic about the scheme, with the regional political leaders determined to provide an enabling environment for would-be investors and their investments.

Mr Dikko said the political will has been demonstrated by the leaders of all the West African countries by way of needed guarantees for investors’ investments to make them safe and secured.

“The investors who are coming also need the assurance that they would be given appropriate rights of what is expected of them to stay.

“It was for this reason that the West African sub-regional market was able to attract investments from the World Bank, African Development Bank and other multilateral and multi-national investing public,” he said.

Source: Premiumtimes.ng

Buhari, ECOWAS condemn coup attempt in Ethiopia

The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned the recent coup attempt in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia.

In a statement he personally signed and made public in Abuja on 27th June, 2019 the ECOWAS chairman also condoled with the families affected by the failed coup.

Buhari noted that ECOWAS remained committed to democratic ideals and all the instruments of the African Union meant to promote good governance.

The statement read, “In my capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and on behalf of our regional organisation, we strongly condemn the coup attempt in the Amhara Region and the tragic events in the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on Saturday, June 22, 2019.

“We express our deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the coup attempt and to the people and Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

“We reaffirm the imperative for the adherence to relevant African Union Instruments, principally the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Lome Declaration on the Unconstitutional Change of Government.

“We are committed to the ideals of the African Union on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance adopted at the Eighth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2007.

“We urge all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any action that could undermine the peace, unity and stability of Ethiopia.

“At this trying period, we also convey our full solidarity to the people and Government of Ethiopia.

“We finally reiterate our respect for the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ethiopia.”

Source:Punchng

ECOWAS to establish migration academy‎ in Nigeria

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has said that the ECOWAS would set up an Migration Academy in Tugga, Kebbi State, to train immigration officers in the sub-region

Babandede disclosed this in Kano at the Passing out Parade of 396 cadets of the 44th Superintendent Basic Course in Kano on 15th June,2019.‎

He said the academy, when established, would help in training officers ‎and border security personnel within the sub-region.

Babandede said the institution would also strengthen collaboration between immigration officers and border security personnel within the sub-region.

He also said that the academy ‎would help officers to learn French to enhance regional corporation and strengthen the capacity of the personnel.
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‎He said that NIS gathered 30 professors at the Command and Staff College, Sokoto, to develop new and responsive training curricula for the training institutions.

The comptroller said the service would intensify efforts at the ongoing reforms on operational activities and staff welfare.‎

He urged them to be hardworking, dedicated, disciplined and be good ambassadors of the service.

In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, said the event represented a sincere demonstration of government commitment to strengthen national security architecture and gainful employment.

“As you pass out from this institution ‎today, I enjoin you to remain guided by the training you have received as well as by the agencies rules of engagement in your conduct,” she said.

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The Comptroller-General, Ghana Immigration, Mr. Kwame Takyi, ssid Ghana would continue to support the academy, adding that it was ready to partner other ECOWAS heads to make the dream a reality.

The commandant of the training school, ‎Mr Richard Adegoke, thanked the Babandede for providing an enabling environment for the cadets.

He urged the graduates to uphold and apply the requisite knowledge and good values they had imbibed during their training as good ambassadors of the school.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those who attended the event include, senators, representative of the Emir of Kano and heads of all security agencies in the state.

source: ecowas.int

Obasanjo, Kufuor urge AU, ECOWAS to intervene in Benin…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Ghanaian counterpart, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, yesterday tasked the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to immediately act on the political situation in Republic of Benin.

According to a statement, signed by the former presidents in Abeokuta and made available by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant (Media), Kehinde Akinyemi, the two elder statesmen stressed an urgent need for intervention in the “festering” political situation in that country before it escalates.

The statement read in part: “In the follow up to the parliamentary election that took place on April 28, 2019, which was considered to be exclusive for not accommodating the opposition parties in the electoral process, there is a general feeling of violation of the individual and collective liberties which have invariably culminated into the restriction currently imposed on former President Boni Yayi and some other opposition leaders.”

Obasanjo and Kufuor, according to the statement, insisted that contrary to the general principle, which stipulates that elections should be inclusive of all political stakeholders to ensure fairness, justice and equity, the prevailing situation in Benin Republic appears not to be in line with the aforementioned.

“The crisis in Republic of Benin calls for urgent action by ECOWAS and African Union (AU) to avert the escalation of the festering political unrest. All stakeholders should be carried along in the electoral process,” the leaders said.

They, therefore, recommended a strong delegation to appeal to President Talon to release his immediate predecessor who needs medical attention abroad.

Source: ecowas.int

Lasun’s threat to sue Lo brews crisis in ECOWAS…

Crisis looms in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament, as the leader of the Nigerian delegation, Yusuf Lasun, threatens to drag the speaker, Moustapha Lo, to court for allegedly defaming his character.

Lasun, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, maintained that the ECOWAS speaker must be up to some mischief for accusing him of attempting to collect salaries without attending plenary.

Disclosing that he was out of the country for two weeks, the leader of the Nigerian delegation said it was embarrassing that the ECOWAS speaker could make such ‘unparliamentary’ remarks about him at plenary.

“Honestly, I do not know his intentions for calling my name, threatening that he would not pay any delegate from Nigeria that failed to attend the session.

“From all indications, there is foul play somewhere because before I travelled to Saudi Arabia, I attended the session; but when I saw the way he was conducting himself, I stopped attending. Maybe some people in the secretariat or the speaker himself is playing games.

“Since I stopped attending the session, there was no link with them. I neither demanded nor received any payment from ECOWAS,” he noted through his media aide, Wole Oladimeji.

Lasun, who is the first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, claimed that he met the ECOWAS secretary-general, John Azumah on this issue.

He quoted the ECOWAS scribe as saying: “What we did was just a financial procedure by capturing all the lawmakers and submitting to the office of the speaker. We are civil servants; we cannot comment on the matter. We do not have any opinion on the matter; we left politicians to play their game.”

Consequently, Lasun demanded retraction of the statement credited to the ECOWAS speaker within 12 hours, failing which would force him to take legal action against the ECOWAS secretariat and speaker for defamation of character.

The speaker, during his closing remarks at the ECOWAS session in Abuja last Friday, reportedly accused Lasun of receiving full payment of allowance without attending plenary, adding: “Lasun, who never came, is being given full payment and he is never here, so I blocked that payment.”