Nnamdi Kanu, Leader Of Biafra Drags FG To ECOWAS Court Over Illegal Detention

Detained leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has dragged the Federal Government and Department of State Services (DSS) to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court to seek for justice over illegal detention.


Forty-six-year- old  Kanu had been arrested by the DSS  at Murtala Muhammed International Airport  Lagos in October, 2015,  on his way back from the United kingdom (UK) and since then, has been in detention and trial over alleged treasonable felony.

IPOB instituted the case which would come up today (October 5, 2016) because the Nigeria judiciary could not deliver judgment in the matter concerning illegal detention of its leader, Kanu.

A statement from the Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, alleged that the Federal Government had also started making moves to rubbish the courts managed by ECOWAS, thinking that it was a Nigeria court it could manipulate.

He said they went to ECOWAS court because of the illegal detention of Kanu which, he said, has sparked condemnation from notable people across the world.

Powerful also called for the release of its leader, Kanu, who has been detained illegally by the DSS and the Nigeria government in Kuje prison, Abuja even after two courts had granted him bail.

“We are also worried why the democratically elected government of President Buhari cannot obey court order in Nigeria and why his advisers cannot afford to let him know that the continued detention of Kanu and other IPOB members, without trial, will bring down the image of his government.”

By the competent court of jurisdiction in Abuja and Justice John Tsoho, who was handling the matter recently hands off the case and was allegedly disgraced out of the case because he wanted to rubbish the judiciary,” Powerful stated.

SunNews

Obasanjo Leads 135-Member Of ECOWAS Observer Team To Côte d’Ivoire Presidential Poll

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is billed to lead a 135-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission to monitor the Côte d’Ivoire Presidential election scheduled for today, Sunday, October 25. The deployment of observer team is in keeping with the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The mission’s principal objective, according to the ECOWAS Commission, is be to ensure a smooth electoral process leading to free, transparent and credible election in that country.
The group will be supported by a technical assistance team from the Commission, which includes its President, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo; the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman and the Director of Political Affairs, Dr. Remi Ajibewa. “The team will also comprise the Commission’s Head of Electoral Assistance Division, Francis Oké, and other staff of the institution. The 120-strong observation mission made up of short-term observers with varied and broad expertise from all ECOWAS Member States, except Côte d’Ivoire, will among others, consist of members of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the Council of the Wise of the regional organisation, and Community Parliamentarians.

“The 120 short-term observers will join the other 15 long-term observers who are already in the country since October 10, 2015; thus bringing to one hundred and thirty-five (135) the total number of ECOWAS observers deployed to monitor this year’s Presidential Election in Côte d’Ivoire. The 15 long-term observers are specialists in security, gender, electoral operations, constitutional law and communication,” said a statement.

ECOWAS Commission also announced that the mission would include member states’ delegates, representatives of the region’s national electoral commissions as well as experts trained at the Accra-based Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

It further said: “The observers will be deployed in all regions of the country to observe and monitor pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral operations and issue a statement on the voting process. The observation will also focus on the regularity, transparency, fairness and smooth conduct of the presidential election.
“At the end of the election, the ECOWAS Observation Mission will express its opinion and, if necessary, make appropriate recommendations to the various stakeholders in the electoral process. This will be contained in a preliminary statement to be read by the head of mission, Olusegun Obasanjo, at a press conference scheduled for 26 October 2015 in the Ivorian capital.”

ECOWAS, however, called on the candidates, political party leaders as well as their supporters and followers to ensure that the election takes place in peace, tranquility, serenity and national cohesion.

Eight of the 10 candidates have been confirmed by the Ivorian Constitutional Council to run for the presidential election.

Source: Today

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