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ECOWAS Court Finds FG Guilty of Violating Rights of #EndSARS Protesters

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The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has ruled that the Federal Republic of Nigeria violated the human rights of Obianuju Udeh and two others.

The court found Nigeria in breach of Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, specifically on the right to life, security of person, freedom of expression, assembly and association, prohibition of torture, the duty of the state to investigate, and the right to effective remedy.

The applicants, Obianuju Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, alleged that these violations occurred during the peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State on October 20 and 21, 2020.

The presiding judge, Justice Koroma Sengu, who delivered the judgment, dismissed the allegation that the right to life as guaranteed under article 4 of the ACPHR is violated.

He, however, said that the Federal Government must pay each applicant N2 million as compensation for violations of their security of person, prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, duty to investigate human rights violations, and right to effective remedy.

Additionally, he said the Federal Government must adhere to its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, investigate and prosecute its agents responsible for these violations, and report to the court within six months on the measures taken to implement this judgment.

The applicants alleged that during the peaceful protests against the SARS unit of the Nigerian Police Force at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20 and 21, 2020, the respondent committed several human rights violations.

Triggered by the alleged killing of Daniel Chibuike, the protests aimed to address police harassment and brutality.

The first applicant’s claims include that the soldiers shot protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries, which she live-streamed, subsequently receiving threatening phone calls that forced her into hiding and eventual asylum.

The second applicant, responsible for protesters’ welfare, described how soldiers began shooting after a power cut, leading to her hospitalisation due to police tear gas.

The third applicant recounted narrowly escaping being shot, observing the refusal of ambulance entry by soldiers, and later witnessing inadequate hospital care for victims.

She argued that she and her colleagues took over the victims’ care and she faced ongoing threats and surveillance, believed to be by respondent’s agents.

The applicants sought declaratory relief and compensation from the court for these violations.

The respondent denied all claims made by the applicants, asserting that the protesters unlawfully assembled at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020, under the guise of protesting against SARS.

The respondent also maintained that its agents followed strict rules of engagement and did not shoot or kill protesters.

It argued that the first applicant incited the crowd by playing music and using her Instagram page to stir disaffection against law enforcement, who were targeting escapee members of Boko Haram and bandits.

The respondent contended that the second applicant’s logistics and welfare support provision indicated her support for the violent protest.

It claimed that soldiers were present to restore peace until the police arrived, denying any harm inflicted on protesters and the refusal of ambulance access.

The respondent also denied that the third applicant’s presence was peaceful, asserting it was meant to escalate violence.

It argued that the Lagos State Government managed the treatment and care of the injured and submits that the applicants have not provided credible evidence to support their claims, or the reliefs sought.

In its judgment, the court found there was no violation of the right to life.

However, the court held that the respondent breached several articles of the ACPHR which occasioned fundamental breaches of human rights violation therein.

Furthermore, the court declared that the applicants were denied the right to an effective remedy.

The court ordered that the respondent make reparations to the applicants for the violation of their fundamental human rights.

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Glo My-G Embarks on Multi-City Entertainment Tour, Targets Youths

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Digital solutions provider,  Globacom, has announced  an  entertainment tour for its youth-centric product, My-G. The show will be hosted across major cities in Nigeria.

Globacom disclosed  at a press briefing on Thursday that the youth-focused  entertainment tour  is geared towards  highlighting the huge  benefits of My-G, a product which addresses the  entertainment and connectivity needs of young Nigerians.

Globacom’s Director of Creativity, Mr. Chuka Obi, explained that My-G offers unique data bundles which enable customers to access their favourite entertainment sites, social media platforms, and streaming services at affordable rates.

According to him, “With My-G, Glo customers are able to enjoy WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, BoomPlay, Audiomack, Instagram and GloTV without sweating on data cost”.

He added further  that, “My-G package is awesome, and customers are assured of getting the best data deals to spend more time on entertainment sites that they love to surf. That necessarily means they won’t get their pockets emptied just because they want to have fun”.

Obi also added that the experiential  engagements in these cities will be garnished with undiluted entertainment, while “the pass to enjoy this, will surely be their uptake of My-G data bundles”.

Youth leaders who graced the unveiling of the entertainment tour gave thumbs up to the initiative from Globacom saying that “it would create a great opportunity for young people to engage with the brand that has remained focused at connecting young people to their passions and empowering them at affordable costs”.

 

President, Students Union Government (SUG), Yaba College of Technology, Morakinyo Olaolu, noted that, “This is a good initiative for youth development. We thank Glo for My-G which is for us the Youth.”.

In the same vein,  Adebobola Ayomide, SUG President, Lagos State University, opined that “My-G will help the youth to stay more active online. It will be useful to us in both academic and social activities. We are happy with the plan and we also call on Glo to provide other packages that will help improve student lives on campus. We appreciate the company at all times”. 

Adekanye Ibukunoluwa,who represented the   University of Lagos SUG, said, “Thanks to Glo for putting the Youth into consideration. Online is where we do most of our academic work and My-G will help us greatly with affordable data.  We hope Glo will  start bringing more activities to the campus so that the students can benefit from them from time to time”.

Globacom also seized the opportunity to reintroduce its competitive tariff plan,  Berekete, which has now been reloaded as Berekete 10X, and offers   more benefits including ten times the value of every recharge, double data value, and amazing benefits on voice calls.

The company also highlighted the benefits of Glo Café app, a one-stop shop for all digital services and other Glo products and services. Glo Café is available for download on the Google App Store where customers can get 100 GB Bonus Data which includes instant 75GB and 5GB data installments for the next 5 months.

In addition to these, an app exclusive recharge offer of 100 per cent and app exclusive data bonus of 10 per cent are also available on Glo Café. Similarly, the app offers an in-App exclusive digital data bundles on special data.

Glo Café was launched to offer users self-services like Data Purchase, Data Gifting & Sharing with utmost ease. The app also addresses self-care needs like balance checks, Recharge, Borrow, Credit/Data, PUK code, NIN number details.

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FCCPC, NANTA Sign Pact to Protect Travellers, Travel Operators

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), on Thursday in Abuja, signed a landmark agreement to protect travellers and travel trade operators from unfair operational trade practices.

The agreement, the first ever by FCCPC and any trade group in Nigeria, will last for two years, with an open window for renewal subject to certain satisfactory metrics.

Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, who corroborated the earlier opening remarks of Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the Executive Commissioner Operations, that NANTA has always been proactive in the affairs of the Nigerian Travel Industry, described the initiative as bold and innovative.

Bello signed the partnership agreement with NANTA in the full glare of all operative management staff of FCCPC, and revealed that he had always followed with keen interest the activities of NANTA, particularly its consistent advocacy to protect the Nigerian travelling public and the discomfort with unfair play and lack of equity in travel trade practices in Nigeria.

“I am excited to meet with NANTA members today. You have always set the pace, and when I came in, I was briefed about your relationship with FCCPC. Today, we are happy to sign into agreement this noble effort that captures all our passion and expectations to protect our people (consumers) from unfair trade practices, including the operators, “the FCCPC boss explained

Speaking on the unhealthy situation in the national trade economy, Mr Bello bemoaned the unbridled spate of high prices of goods and services in the country, wondering if Nigerians truly love each other, noting that price hikes of consumer goods in various markets does not tally with empirical findings by FCCPC of cost of goods and as such negates the laws on fair and equitable trade practices.

“Further on NANTA, he said we are glad to work with this set of Nigerians to make our country better and respected in the commity of nations.

NANTA President, Mr Yinka Folami, honoured by the presence of the Association’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Agoha, led the Immediate Past President, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, Financial Secretary, Yinka Ladipo, Abuja Zonal Vice President, Mrs Uloma Kemabonta, Internal Auditor, Ugochukwu Johnson, Chief Administrative Officer, Diagi Stanley, and Legal Representative, from Pinheiro LP, Francis Agunbiade to the agreement signing ceremony. He informed that NANTA as trade body can not stand by and watch the entire Nigerian travel trade sector eroded by obnoxious trade practices.

He further lamented the gradual exctintion of Nigerian currency, the Naira, as a legitimate trade instrument in view of the demands for dollar by trade providers in Nigeria without rigid enforcement by concerned authorities.

“I honestly wonder if we love our country, our Naira, and our people as everything we do has to be influenced by foreign denominations and it is like our currency, the Naira, is no longer sovereign” NANTA President mourned.

He commended FCCPC for being consistent in the pursuance of the protection of the rights of consumers and in diffusing the negative climate of trade exploitation that hurt the Nigerian economy and the people .

“We intentionally came with our Chairman Board of Trustees, Alhaji Aminu Agoha to sigh this historic agreement because we believe with this modest intervention, we have achieved fifty per cent of our delivery as an association to our members and in particular the travelling public. We thank Mr Tunji Bello and his professional team for believing in NANTA and willing to work with us to clean up our sector. Today will forever remain historic and memorable to us in NANTA, and we assure FCCPC that our partnership on this path will be taken seriously, “NANTA President added.

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US-Based Group Endorses Sunny Irakpo As Brand Ambassador

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United States of America based organizations, Dawkins Development Group Inc. and Flip These Bricks Academy have made a renowned Anti-drug advocate, Host/Producer Interview45 and founder/ president Silec Initiatives, a brand Ambassador for Africa, to champion developmental projects and Initiatives that will engage the teeming youth population into meaningful socio-economic activities that has the potential to grow the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of Nigeria.

The Chairman/President, Dawkins Development Group Inc. and Flip These Bricks Academy in New York United States of America, Daniel Salem Dawkins made this known in an official letter addressed to Amb. Sunny Irakpo.

Dawkins Development Group Inc. New York United States of America, is a real estate and property development organization that specializes in design/building residential and commercial construction,land development, building remodeling, Roofing, restoration and handyman services for private and public clients and investors. The management of the organization stated that they are excited about the endorsement of amb. Sunny Irakpo, which to a large extent help create positive investment opportunities in the United States and Africa.

They added that your dedication and commitment to human and societal development which aligned with our organization’s values and vision to impact human lives , empower the younger generations to make the world a better place.

Responding to the endorsement, amb. Sunny Irakpo, thanked the Chairman of Dawkins Development Group Inc. and Flip These Bricks Academy for considering him for the noble venture to drive the next generation in job creation opportunities.

As part of his efforts to rid the country of drug abuse and addiction, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State His Excellency Sen Douye Diri through the office of the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to the Governor of Bayelsa State Mrs Owanari Rowland Harry recently , approved SILEC partnership to build the capacity of youth in the state.

Irakpo is of the view that with the endorsement by Dawkins, a testament that hard work and patience pays.

Irakpo added that the opportunity provided by Dawkins Development Group Inc. and Flip These Bricks Academy, development will further address social vices such as drugs and substance disorder amongst youth in Bayelsa State in particular and Nigeria in general.

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