Politics

#EndSARS: Regional court indicts Nigerian govt of rights abuses

Published

4 months ago

July 12, 2024

The Nigerian government was indicted on Wednesday by the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for violating human rights during its response to the #EndSARS protest, specifically for its excessive use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.

In a decision handed down by Judge Rapporteur Justice Koroma Sengu, the ECOWAS sub-regional court harshly condemned the N10 million payout to each of the victims listed in the lawsuit.

According to a statement made by human rights activist Chioma Chuka-Agwuegbo, a coalition of human rights activists and organizations filed a lawsuit before the ECOWAS Court alleging serious abuses of fundamental human rights by Nigerian security personnel.

Chuka-Agwuegbo claims that the ruling of the ECOWAS Court emphasizes the vital role that civil society plays in promoting justice and human dignity as well as the significance of regional judicial systems in keeping governments accountable and defending people’s rights.

The Court found that the Nigerian government’s conduct violated multiple international human rights norms, including Articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, after carefully reviewing the material and witness testimony.

The anti-police brutality protests in Nigeria, which took place after a tumultuous two weeks, seemed to be an attempt to challenge the country’s culture of respect through street demonstrations and social media. This powerful movement seemed to upset those in authority.

The Court discovered solid proof of infringement of the rights to liberty and security, assembly, free speech, and dignity, as well as the disproportionate use of force. It declared that the Respondent State’s responsibilities under the African Charter were violated and that the use of force was not necessary.

Additionally, it stated that the applicants had been tortured by the Nigerian authorities. The Nigerian government failed to provide evidence to counter the court’s findings that the Lekki tollgate incident, in which live bullets were fired into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators, produced a fearful environment.

The Respondent State violated the Applicants’ rights under Articles 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter, the Court further held, by refusing to provide the Applicants their freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the ECOWAS Revised Treaty both judged Nigeria’s duties to conflict with the government’s conduct.

Related Topics:#ENDSARS Featured Nigeria

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Politics

Kenya’s Supreme Court overturns 2023 finance law verdict. What this means

Published

14 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following demonstrations that caused President William Ruto to rescind this year’s finance bill, the Supreme Court of Kenya has overturned an appeal court’s ruling declaring the 2023 financial law null and void.

The government primarily uses the finance bills to outline revenue-raising initiatives, and with the repeal of this year’s legislation, Ruto’s administration has been depending on the 2023 finance law to keep collecting taxes.

“We hereby set aside the Court of Appeal’s finding declaring the entire Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional,” the Supreme Court said in its ruling.

Following a spate of protests organised by the opposition last year, the 2023 law was challenged in court after Ruto’s government used it to hike the top personal income tax rate, implement a housing charge, and triple the value-added tax on fuel, among other measures.

After taking power in September 2022, Ruto’s administration attempted to enact a fresh round of tax increases this year, which infuriated many citizens and led to violent riots in June and July that claimed over 60 lives.

Shortly after the national legislature ratified this year’s version of the finance law, Ruto was obliged to withdraw it due to the disturbance, which also caused a delay in the approval of a fresh funding tranche from the International Monetary Fund.

Ruto has maintained that the tax hikes are required to pay off a significant amount of public debt and support development initiatives in Kenya, the largest economy in East Africa.

After Kenya met the goals established by the Fund in a review of its loan program, the executive board of the IMF is scheduled to convene on Wednesday to approve the new payout. The 2023 finance law was ruled unconstitutional by Kenya’s Court of Appeal in July, but the top court stayed the decision until it considered a government appeal.

Politics

President Masisi seeks 2nd- term as Diamond-rich Botswana set to vote

Published

2 days ago

October 28, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

On Wednesday, Botswana, a diamond-rich southern African state, will hold a general election in which President Mokgweetsi Masisi will face three opponents for a second term.

Although a divided opposition offers the advantage to Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the nation of 2.3 million people since its independence from Britain in 1966, commentators predict the poll might be competitive.

Botswana has seen stability and relative prosperity thanks to its small population, which receives free healthcare and education, and its income from diamonds. On the basis of gem value, it is the world’s leading producer.

However, the government has struggled to diversify its economy in recent years due to a decline in the diamond market, which has squeezed income. Critics claim the BDP has been in power for too long and accuse it of corruption and poor economic management, both of which it disputes.

“Our diamonds have not been selling since April so yes, our revenues are down but the economic fundamentals remain intact,” said Masisi at a presidential debate last week.
“We are going to continue with the projects and policies we have come up with that are aimed at putting more money and wealth into the hands of the citizens of this country,” he said.

Negotiating a new deal with diamond tycoon De Beers that will increase Botswana’s portion of its rough diamonds was one of his first term’s accomplishments.

In order to support farmers, he also reinstated a ban on the import of certain product goods and lifted the ban on elephant hunting, which he claims aids rural areas.

Duma Boko of the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is his principal opponent.

Supported by former President Ian Khama, who left the BDP following a dispute with Masisi over the removal of the hunting prohibition and other matters, the other contenders are Mephato Reatile of the Botswana Patriotic Front and Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party.

Masisi’s economic record has come under fire from critics, who point to the country’s rising unemployment rate of about 28%.

“It is not acceptable that a country such as ours which is the fifth richest per capita in Africa still has so many people living in poverty,” said Boko at the debate.

Among sub-Saharan African nations, Botswana actually has the fourth-highest GDP per capita, according to World Bank data.

In order to raise social subsidies and more than double the minimum wage, Boko has promised to cut back on unnecessary spending.

Although the BDP’s popularity has been waning, it still holds a sizable majority in parliament after winning 38 of the 57 seats up for grabs in 2019. UDC took home 15 seats. In Botswana, the president is chosen by legislators, who are chosen by voters.