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Niger Junta decline meeting with UN, AU, ECOWAS delegation, as bloc imposes more sanctions on coupists

Nigerien authorities on Monday turned down a meeting request by a joint delegation from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES and signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Niger, the trio had jointly written to notify Niger authorities of the mission slated for today (Tuesday).

The Nigerien government said that based on ECOWAS sanction ordering member states to shut their border with Niger, “organisation of such a mission by special flight requires special consideration by the Niger authorities, including a special exemption which is not invoked in this note from the Resident Representation.”

According to the memo, the delegation was meant to arrive in Niamey on 8 August by a special flight chartered by the United Nations.

“While reiterating their readiness to engage in discussions with delegations or emissaries concerning the situation in Niger, as indicated to the mission led by the former President of Nigeria, GI (er) Abdulsalami Abubakar, the current context of anger and revolt of the populations following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, does not allow to welcome the said delegation in the required serenity and security,” it said.

As a result of the above, the Niger authorities said, the postponement of the mission is necessary, as is the revision of certain aspects of the programme, including meetings with certain personalities which, it said, cannot take place for obvious security reasons, in this atmosphere of threatened aggression against Niger.

It requested the Resident Representation of ECOWAS in Niamey to kindly communicate its position to ECOWAS while assuring the sub-regional bloc of its highest consideration.

A three-person ECOWAS delegation led by former Nigerian military head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, was not allowed to see the coup leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, or detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

Similarly, US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland on Monday visited Niamey but was also not allowed to meet Mr Tchiani.

Military option still on as Nigeria imposes more sanctions on putschists, supporters

The Nigerian government has imposed more financial sanctions on the coup plotters in neighbouring Niger and their backers, an official has said.

Ajuri Ngelale, the spokesperson of President Bola Tinubu, said Tuesday evening that the sanctions were in the aftermath of the deadline given to the coup plotters by ECOWAS.

“I can also report that following the expiration of the deadline of the ultimatum and standing on the preexisting consensus position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in Niger Republic by the bloc of ECOWAS Heads of State, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an additional slew of financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on entities and individuals related to or involved with the military junta in Niger Republic,” Mr Ngelale told journalists in Abuja.

He also said ECOWAS had not taken off the option of military action in Niger and would discuss its options at Thursday’s meeting in Abuja.

Mr Tinubu, the current chairperson of the ECOWAS heads of governments, has led the regional body to condemn the coup in Niger and demand a return to democracy and the release of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

An ECOWAS ultimatum for the return to democracy ended Sunday with the coup plotters remaining defiant.

Premium Times

August 8, 2023
Otti gives criminals in Abia ‘red card’, launches “Operation Crush” special joint security operation

Governor Alex Otti has given criminals terrorising residents of Abia State the option of either to “leave the state in a hurry or be crushed”.

The Governor who gave the option Tuesday at Okpara Square Umuahia during the launch of “Operation Crush”, a special security operation against the rising tide of violent crime, declared that “Abia will no longer share an inch of its land with criminals or their sponsors”.

He restated that “security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of Government”, hence, his administration “will no longer watch criminal elements and their collaborators” make life unbearable for residents of the state.

”The goal of this special operation is to protect Abians against any form of insecurity. We will use the superiority of our force to clear and flush our criminals from their hideouts in any part of the state.”

Otti who entitled his speech at the launch “We Shall Not Give an Inch”, said that the special operation was a strong and coordinated response to the lingering insecurity in the state.

He recalled that he had during his inaugural speech, declared that there would be zero tolerance for insecurity in the state, hence the operation was in compliance with the declaration.

Otti frowned at the upsurge of crime in parts of the state especially Umunneochi- Isuikwuato axis, where according to him, bandits and criminals have declared war against the state.

He said that all those behind various forms of criminality in the state would be flushed out from “wherever they are hiding”.

Governor Otti who expressed pain over various attacks against innocent citizens in the state said he particularly considered the July 25 attack on the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Isaac Ukaegbu in Aba, an assault on the Government which would no longer be allowed.

“We shall no longer tolerate them. Never again! Criminals won’t have any space again in Abia territory.

”There is one of only two options: Either to leave the state in a hurry or be crushed with the one language that they understand. And that is the language of superior force!”

Gov. Otti said that security agencies in the state had his permission to smoke out and deal decisively with criminals disturbing the peace of residents.

He also said that the special operation would be after those who habour or provide protection for criminals.

“Crime offers no reward but regret and shame”, Otti declared.

He, however, cautioned security operatives against harassment of innocent citizens, warning that such overzealousness will not be condoned.

The Governor, in fact, warned that the heades of security agencies would be held liable for any excesses of their personnel involved in the special operation.

Otti who said that hotlines of the special operation would be made available to the public, pleaded with residents to help volunteer information about suspected criminals in their localities for prompt action.

The Governor later presented 20 branded Hilux patrol vans to security agencies including the Army, Police, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, involved in the special operation.

He promised continued support of his Government to security agencies for the good of all law-abiding citizens.

”We will support and protect all who mean well for the state”, he said, adding that “security is the foundation for enduring prosperity”.

Otti further said that the major preoccupation of his administration was how to make Abia the destination for investors.

Speaking on-behalf of Heads of security agencies in the state, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, thanked the Governor for his commitment towards improving security in the state.

He said that the Governor had demonstrated commitment towards ensuring security of lives and property of residents.

The Police boss commended Gov. Otti for giving priority to security matters, and promised on behalf of security agencies in the state to complement the Governor’s efforts.

” The Governor has been very supportive to security operations going on in the state since he came on board. We shall do our best to support him and ensure a peaceful and stable Abia state”.

Vanguard

August 8, 2023
Delta Pledges Effective Implementation of Human Capital Development Programmes

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme said the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has mapped out activities to ensure effective implementation of its human capital development programmes.

Onyeme spoke today, when members of the Ndokwa Youth Leaders Association, NYLA, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.

“Human capital development is very important as it empowers the people to be positively engaged.

“We will continue to do more training and improve on some of the human capital development programmes that we inherited from the previous administrations.

“Our goal as a government is to keep all Deltans positively engaged for us to have a robust economy and to achieve that, we will effectively, implement effectively, our human capital development programmes,” the deputy governor said.

He added that the state government would advance more programmes that would be of benefits to Deltans, especially the youths.

On the issue of security which was raised during the visit, Onyeme, disclosed that government is committed to the security of lives and property as the success story of the MORE Agenda of the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration revolves round effective security.

He expressed joy that youths and the people of Ndokwa ethnic nationality had demonstrated love towards him and the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and thanked them for their support before, during and after the general elections.

Earlier, the President of NYLA, Comrade Ernest Enebeli, described the deputy governor as a huge gift to the Ndokwa nation and humanity.

He disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to intimate Onyeme on the need for government to provide necessary infrastructure, asserting that Ndokwa was in dire need of Infrastructural development, urban renewal, security and human capital development.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Christopher Osakwe was among dignitaries who witnessed the visit.

August 8, 2023
Niger Putsch: ECOWAS leaders to meet Thursday after expiration of deadline

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), would Thursday, hold an extraordinary summit on the political situation in the Republic of Niger.

The summit billed to hold in Abuja is sequel to an earlier summit held on July 30, in which the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government gave a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta to release President Bazoum and reinstate his government.

Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 by members of the Presidential Guard and the armed forces led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Following the putsch, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, under the leadership of President Tinubu, convened an extraordinary summit. At the end, it amongst others, ECOWAS, a regional political and economic union of 15 countries located had threatened to restore order in Niger by force if the military junta did not vacate office within seven days.

•Focus on Nigeria’s problems – MBF

Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has cautioned President Tinubu against interference in Niger in the quest to restore democracy.

National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Dr. Isuwa Dogo, in a statement charged Tinubu to focus his energy in addressing “the monsters of insecurity shredding Nigeria, including addressing the harsh economic sufferings unleashed on the masses of the country following the withdrawal of fuel subsidies rather than chagring to war with Niger Republic.

Dogo stated that caution and statesmanship should be employed in dealing with insurrection in Niger because of the cultural, social, and religious affinity between the country and Nigerian states that share borders with it.

“Understanding the dynamics and intricate relationship between Niger Republic and Nigerian states that share borders; should serve as lessons in avoiding any form of warfare. With the coup in Niger Republic attracting sympathy from Nigeriens masses over the sacking of the democratically elected leadership, caution should be exercised.

“As it stands, Nigeria should never allow itself to plunge into an avoidable war.”

He urged African leaders to enthrone good governance in their respective countries as such is the best way to discourage coups.

“Leadership is founded on moral high ground. The best medicine against coups is enthronement of justice and equity for all. For ambitious military officers to be discouraged from staging coups, democracy must be cleansed of rogue leaders thrown up by flawed electoral processes.

“The lesson of the coup should not be lost on leaders who deployed underhand dealings to assume the mantle of leadership through compromising the electoral process,” he said.

•Ochulor: It’ll be useless venture

Former military sole administrator of Delta State, Air commodore Luke Ochulor (retd) also cautioned against waging a war against the coup plotters in Niger.

The war tactician believe the country would be making its greatest mistake if its military is allowed to embark on the mission to Niger.

Moreover, he said Nigeria has numerous problems to deal with and going to war in such a situation would be a useless venture and counterproductive.

“And anybody who takes such a journey now will regret it. There’s no need for it. We have more problems in our hands than going to fight in Niger. There’s no need for such a fight. It would be unwise.

“No country with the type of problem we have will engage in inter-territorial activities, we have more problems we can handle here. Insecurity and hunger are worrying Nigerian. A country with the type of problem we have will not think of quarrelling with anybody let alone going to war. Tinubu should remember that war does not pay anybody.”

•Mali, Burkina Faso send delegation

As the Tinubu-led ECOWAS leaders mull the next line of action following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, Mali and Burkina Faso has sent a joint delegation to Niamey in a show of solidarity.

“Burkina Faso and Mali are sending a delegation to Niamey to show the solidarity of the two countries with the brotherly people of Niger,” the army tweeted.

The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, which were established after the military took power by force in 2020 and 2022 in the two countries, also declared their support for the Nigerien soldiers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum

The two countries also warned that any military intervention in Niger would be considered as a declaration of war against them and would lead to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from ECOWAS.

Sun

August 8, 2023
Following subsidy removal, Tinubu to create at least 56 CNG stations in first phase – Ajuri Ngelale

The Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale said President Bola Tinubu plans to create at least 56 CNG (compress natural gas) stations in first phase of his administration.

Ngelale disclosed in a chat with journalists on TVC show, Journalists Hangout, monitored by our correspondent.

The residential Spokesperson informed that the Federal Government has partnered with an indigenous company, NIPCO, on the project.

He said, “How this is going to work is that already we have partnered with an indigenous company NIPCO, which may be familiar to many Nigerians. They have 14 CNG filling stations across the country, they are the only company that has CNG filling stations at that scale. Clearly there’s a need to massively scale that up to get stations established across the country.

“They already have 14 CNG filling station across the country, there is a plan to create at least 56 CNG Station More in phase 1, because this is time based and the President understands the urgency.”

“We are going to see an unprecedented scale in investment not just in electric vehicle production and distribution but also CNG fueled vehicles both in production and ensuring you have dealt with the supply side and demand side.

“Mr. President understands the pains nigerians are facing and feeling in all parts of the country due to the removal of fuel subsidy with fuel prices on an average of N617 per litre and knowing that CNG run between N139 and N179 per litre it’s really a no-brainer to move aggressively to ensuring that we adopt CNG fueled vehicle particularly our commercial transportation companies who are enlisted in the first phase,” he said.

Ngelale further stated, “Within the parameters of the agreement which has been struck recently by this administration between the NNPCL and NIPCO, there’s essentially a two-phased programme which will lead to the establishment of 56 new CNG filling stations nationwide across all states of the federation.

“Based on the urgency from the president, the first phase will run between now [August 2023] and March 31, 2024. What we are going to be doing is rolling out 21 CNG filling stations across all geopolitical zones in the country,” he added.

Vanguard

August 8, 2023
Fed Gov’t withdraws contempt charge against organised labour

The Federal Government has withdrawn the contempt charge against Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and their leaders four days before the expiration of the ultimatum by NLC to the government to withdraw the contempt summons or face indefinite nationwide strike.

In a letter to Messrs Falana & Falana’ Chambers, Counsel, to NLC, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs B.E. Jeddy-Agba, said “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Justice has been drawn to the Communiqué issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on August 3, 2023, wherein NLC announced the suspension of its nationwide protests and criticised the contempt summons issued by the National Industrial Court (“Court”), amongst other issues.

“Kindly recall the exchange of correspondence between the Ministry and your Office on the need for compliance with the extant court orders, restraining industrial action of any kind on the part of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress. The position of the Ministry was informed by the need to safeguard the integrity of the court and prevent avoidable service disruption or damages to public facilities.

“However, despite these exchanges/interventions, the labour unions on 2nd August 2023 proceeded with the industrial action through public protests which led to disruption of work and the eventual pulling down of the gate of the National Assembly. The foregoing prompted the Ministry to initiate contempt proceedings by filing Form 48 on the same 2nd August 2023 in accordance with Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and Order 9 Rule 13 of the Judgment (Enforcement) Rules. It is trite that issuance of Form 48 is just the starting point in contempt proceedings which will only crystalize upon the issuance of Form 49 and the consequential committal order.

“Upon the intervention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the decision of the labour unions to call off their industrial action after meetings with the President and leadership of the National Assembly, this Ministry did not proceed further with the contempt proceedings, which would have required the issuance of Form 49 within two days of the issuance of Form 48. “It is self-evident that the non-issuance of Form 49 as of 4th August 2023, renders the contempt proceedings inchoate.

“You may therefore wish to advise or guide the labour unions on the practice and procedure of contempt proceedings, particularly to the effect that the issues or concerns raised by NLC in its communiqué on the proceedings have been overtaken by events.”

Vanguard

August 8, 2023
Enugu state gov’t bans collection of levies, tolls on roads, highways; introduces state “Unified E-Ticket Scheme”

The government of Enugu State has announced a ban on the collection of levies and tolls on behalf of the government.

In a public announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the state government described the collection of levies on highways and roads as “anti-business activities of syndicates” operating “contrary to the current government’s determination to dismantle obstacles to the ease of doing business in the state”.

In another memo signed by Angela Chilotam Nnamani, the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, the state government announced the introduction of a unified e-ticket scheme.

Read the full contents of both memos below:

ENUGU GOVERNMENT BANS COLLECTION OF LEVIES AND TOLLS ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADS

The Enugu State Government views with utmost displeasure the activities of those who constitute nuisance on our roads and deploy all manner of crude tactics to extort monies from vehicles transporting goods, farm produce and livestock in our state, in the name of collection of levies and tolls on behalf of government.

Such anti-business activities of syndicates operating on our highways and roads are contrary to the current government’s determination to dismantle obstacles to the ease of doing business in the state.

The current administration of His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah shall not pay lip service to its stated commitment to expand the Enugu economy sevenfold by promoting economic activities, enabling private sector investments, offering incentives to boost the productive sectors such as agricultural and agro-allied activities in the state. Those willing to engage in lawful economic and business activities in our state shall be encouraged to do so as they are beneficial to the state.

Government is also taking steps to eliminate multiple and illegal taxation in the state, including collection of taxes and revenues by individuals via cash payments, manual issuance of receipts, and paper tickets. Government is convinced that tax and revenue collection must be convenient and friendly via technology while addressing leakages.

In view of the foregoing, the Enugu State Government hereby bans the collection of levies and tolls along highways and roads in the state by individuals or groups of individuals purportedly acting on behalf of government. They have been, by this announcement, put on notice to quit all highways and roads within the state as failure to comply will attract severe consequences.

The ban takes effect immediately. A taskforce has been constituted to enforce the ban.

Henceforth, anyone caught in the illegal act shall be prosecuted.

Please be guided accordingly.

Signed:

Professor Chidiebere Onyia

Secretary to the State Government

Monday, August 7, 2023

ENUGU STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (ESIRS)

INTRODUCTION OF THE ENUGU STATE UNIFIED E-TICKET SCHEME

In line with the mandate of the Dr Peter Mbah’s Administration in the State to promote a digital economy, eliminate multiple taxation and grow the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), the Enugu State Government wishes to announce the introduction of the Enugu State Unified e-Ticket Scheme.

The unified e-ticket is an electronic ticket for collection of taxes from the informal sector, such as road taxes, including tickets from tricycles, buses, tippers, emblems, and passengers’ manifest. Others are revenues from markets and artisans.

This scheme has been introduced to make tax payment easy and convenient for all citizens while eliminating harassments and loss of government revenue. All payments and enforcement shall be done using online and agency banking tools.

By this announcement, government hereby bans all forms of paper tickets across the state. Citizens are enjoined to purchase their daily tickets through our approved e-ticket agents across the state. Your ticket will be vended to your vehicle plate number/shop number, and enforcers will also confirm your purchase using online means only. Anybody found selling paper tickets will be severely sanctioned.

To confirm the status of your payments at any time, please dial *8011*042#.

The new e-ticket scheme will commence on 11th August, 2023.

For further enquiries, call 08038743801, 07062634378, 08038950202

Signed

Angela Chilotam Nnamani

Executive Chairman

Enugu State Internal Revenue Service

August 7, 2023
‘Threat Of Intervention’: Niger Closes Air Space Following Expiration of ECOWAS Ultimatum

Niger’s military rulers announced Sunday that they had closed the country’s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response”.

“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice,” the country’s new rulers said in a statement.

The announcement came as the deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS for them to hand back power to the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was due to expire.

ECOWAS last Sunday issued Niger’s new military rulers with an ultimatum to stand down within the week or face possible military intervention.

Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency.

AFP

August 7, 2023
India-bound fake ‘couple’ nabbed by NDLEA with 184 wraps of cocaine in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a fake couple, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, purportedly going for medical treatment in India for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.322 kilogrammes, with 100 grammes of the drug also concealed in the woman’s private part.

The two suspects were intercepted at the Screening Point 1, Terminal 1 of the international wing of the Lagos Airport on Tuesday, August 1, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to India.

Though their travel documents show consistency in their names and depict them as a couple, an NDLEA officer however decided to subject them to body scan. The scan confirmed they both ingested drugs for which they were later placed on excretion observation at the agency’s facility.

While their travel documents identify the man as Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and the lady to be Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, preliminary investigation revealed that the intending passengers were not a couple but obtained the travel documents in the same surname to beat security checks at the airport. The lady later gave her real name as Ngogbike Nkechi.

Spokesperson for the Agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, yesterday, said during her interview, she confessed that she was recruited in her church in Aba, Abia State, where she lives.

According to him, the suspect, Nonyelum (a.k.a Ngogbike Nkechi) stated further that she is a divorcee, and that Kingsley with whom she was travelling was not her husband but connected only for the purpose of the illicit drug business trip.

She revealed that her arranged husband, Kingsley, brought the pellets of cocaine to her to ingest in a hotel where they were both lodged in separate rooms the previous day Monday, July 31.

After their arrest, a thorough search conducted on her led to the discovery of a big size wrap of cocaine that weighed 100 grammes she inserted into her private part.

She confessed that she was promised $5,000 upon successful delivery of the drug in India. In his own statement, Kingsley who was into clothing business in Onitsha, Anambra State, claimed he was promised $2,000, after a successful delivery of the drug in India.

A further search of the Agency’s crime database revealed that Kingsley also obtained his travel documents with fake identity for the trip. Indeed, it was established that he was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on March 19, 2022, for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243kgs upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on board an Ethiopian Airline flight. His travel documents then contained his real name: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian.

After his arrest at the Abuja Airport on March 19, 2022 along with another suspect, Iro Elvis Uche, who also ingested 65 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.376kgs, Uwaezuoke was subsequently arraigned before Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abuja with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022. He was eventually granted bail by the court pending the conclusion of his trial. He is still on the court bail when he was arrested at the Lagos Airport for a similar offence on Tuesday.

ALSO, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to courier companies in Lagos have intercepted various quantities of dextromethorphan mixed with heroin; methamphetamine; Dimethyl Sulfone and Cannabis concealed in different objects going to Europe.

While 272 grammes of dextromethorphan mixed with heroin going to Greece were recovered from white neck beads; 665 grammes of cannabis being shipped to Hong Kong were hidden in bars of Dudu Osun black bathing soap; with 261 grammes of dimethyl sulfone going to New Zealand hidden in reels of weaving threads and 1.5kgs of methamphetamine also going to New Zealand neatly packed in an MP3 player after all the parts were removed and the substance stuffed as replacement.

Other illicit drugs were seized, and suspects arrested in Kano, Borno and Anambra states within the last seven days.

In his reaction to the seizures and arrests of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of MMIA, Kano, FCT and Borno Commands of the Agency as well as those of DOGI for their diligence, vigilance and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities. He charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars.

Guardian

August 7, 2023
Fed Gov’t says use of force on Niger Military Junta will be last resort

The Federal Government said the use of force would be the last resort should the coup plotters in Niger Republic refuse to surrender.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adamu Lamuwa, stated this on Friday at a briefing session on the current political situation in Niger Republic and the ECOWAS sub-region, organised by the ministry for the diplomatic corps.

On July 26, 2023, the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, was illegally detained by the military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

On July 30, 2023, ECOWAS, led by its Chairman and Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, decided on sanctions against the coupists in Niger who toppled Bazoum last week.

In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions.”

ECOWAS on Thursday sent a three-man delegation to Niger to resolve the current impasse in the country.

Speaking at the event, Lamuwa expressed worries that should the coup subsist, it might stain ECOWAS’ reputation.

He explained, “No doubt, the developments in Niger, like Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have raised serious concerns about regional stability and democratic principles in the region.

“There is concern that the success of the coup in Niger would significantly dampen ECOWAS’ reputation, especially if the country joins the ranks of others that are governed by unconstitutional leaders, such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.”

He however noted that the “use of force is the last resort and we hope we do not get there.”

Punch

August 4, 2023
Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 2020 election charges

Washington, DC – Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges he sought to overturn the 2020 election results in the United States, as the embattled former president made his first court appearance to respond to a new federal indictment against him.

“When you look at what’s happening, this is a persecution of a political opponent,” Trump said from an airport tarmac in Virginia after leaving the court. “This was never supposed to happen in America.”

Does Trump face any serious competition in the Republican Party?

Trump entered his plea on Thursday afternoon during an arraignment hearing at the Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in Washington, DC. The judge set the next hearing in the case for August 28.

The arraignment came just two days after US prosecutors filed four federal charges against Trump, accusing the Republican politician of seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election that he lost to his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

The case is the third criminal indictment filed against the former president since March. Trump also faces state charges in New York over an alleged hush-money payment to an adult film star and federal charges linked to accusations he mishandled classified government documents at his Florida estate.

The current frontrunner in the race for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination, Trump has denied all wrongdoing and framed the indictments as attempts to derail his campaign.

But the latest indictment could be his biggest hurdle yet. Experts have said the 2020 election interference case marks the most significant of the three criminal indictments – with one expert calling it “probably the most significant legal case in the nation’s history”.

The indictment alleges that Trump “pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results” in an attempt to scuttle Biden’s 2020 victory.

Prosecutors highlighted Trump’s involvement in the events leading up to the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters overran the building to prevent Congress from certifying Biden’s election win.

Debbie Hines, a legal analyst and former prosecutor in Baltimore, Maryland, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the case will be “a test of the US legal system as well as the United States’ democracy”.

“Everything is on [the] line,” she said, stressing that every defendant accused of crimes in the US faces the same legal process that Trump will go through. “He is presumed innocent in a court of law until he is convicted of anything, and he has a right to be tried before a jury.

“But what this case shows is that the rule of law stands in this country and that no one is above the law, not even a former president of the United States,” Hines said.

Trump had argued, however, that it will be “impossible” for him to get a fair trial in Washington, DC, a Democrat-controlled city.

In a social media post before his arraignment, the former president said he hoped the “fake case” against him would be “moved to an impartial venue”, such as in West Virginia. “This Indictment is all about Election Interference!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social website.

Alina Habba, Trump’s lawyer, also struck a defiant tone on Thursday, renewing accusations that the former president is being targeted to derail his 2024 campaign. “This is election interference at its finest against the leading candidate right now for president for either party,” Habba told reporters.

“President Trump is under siege in a way that we have never seen before. President Trump and his legal team and everyone on his team will continue to fight – not for him, but for the American people.”

Though Trump’s legal troubles have mounted in the past few months, his support among Republican Party supporters remains strong, according to recent polling.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released on Monday showed Trump with 54 percent support among likely GOP primary voters, compared with 17 percent for his closest challenger, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Experts have said this is partly because a large segment of the US electorate views the criminal charges against Trump as part of an effort to impede his 2024 re-election campaign.

Carrie Sheffield, a conservative commentator and senior policy analyst at the Independent Women’s Forum, said she believes the charges against Trump amount to “political persecution”.

“As it stands right now, I do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to say that these charges have any merit. I believe so far, what we’ve seen is a political persecution,” Sheffield told Al Jazeera earlier on Thursday.

“Many supporters, conservative people, say that the president, Joe Biden, is trying to lock up the chief political rival, and that is very disturbing.”

Still, the scene outside the Washington, DC, court before Trump’s arraignment was muted, with only a few protesters coming out to show their support for the former president.

“I want to see it with my own eyes, instead of watching it through the fake news,” Dion Cini, a 54-year-old who travelled to the US capital from his home in Brooklyn, New York, told Al Jazeera before the hearing.

He said he had been at every Trump arraignment so far and was not bothered if other supporters did not join him. “I don’t care if anyone else shows up. I’m here and that’s all that matters,” Cini said.

Al Jazeera

August 4, 2023
Coup d’etat: Republic of Niger severes ties with Nigeria, France, US, others

Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani

Niger’s coup leaders have cut off ties with Nigeria after the efforts of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to resolve the ongoing impasse failed.

ECOWAS had issued a seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum to avoid possible clash with the junta.

But President Bola Tinubu sent a high-powered delegation to the country to meet with the coup leaders, on Thursday.

The delegation led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) only met with representatives of the junta.

Subsequently, Niger severed ties with Nigeria, Togo, France, its coloniser, and the United States.

“The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger” to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States are terminated,” Radio France International quoted one of the putschists to have said on national television.

On July 26, Niger’s ousted leader, Bazoum was detained by members of the Presidential Guard, and that evening, the military announced that it had seized power.

Two days after toppling the government of Bazoum, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the commander of Niger’s presidential guard, declared himself the head of a transitional government.

Meanwhile, the US has thrown its weight behind the ECOWAS led by the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu to reinstate Bazoum.

In a statement by the White House on on Thursday, US President, Joe Biden called for the immediate release of Bazoum.

The American leader said the release is essential for defending fundamental democratic values, and standing up for constitutional order, justice, and the right of peaceful assembly, which are foundation to the partnership between Niger and the US.

“I call for President Bazoum and his family to be immediately released, and for the preservation of Niger’s hard-earned democracy.

“The United States stands with the people of Niger to honor our decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values and support for civilian-led governance,” he said in the statement.

Leadership

August 4, 2023