Amid the military junta in Niger Republic, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), an international civil group, has initiated legal suit against Nigerian President Bola Tínubu before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice.
The group is invoking the Protocols of the Court to halt the intended military intervention by the Nigerian Government in the Republic of Niger due to a coup plot.
The lawsuit, presented by Nigerian lawyer Dr Oluwakayode Ajulo on behalf of EMA, contends that the planned military action contravenes ECOWAS treaties and international laws.
The group asserts that such an intervention would breach ECOWAS obligations and amount to illegality.
EMA is joined in the case by other plaintiffs, including Professor Bola Akinterinwa, a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of the Internal Affairs, and Hamza Nuhu Dantani, a lawyer from the Nigerian Northern Region.
The defendants named in the case are ECOWAS, the Authority of Heads of State & Government of ECOWAS, the President of ECOWAS Mission, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Republic of Niger.
The military coup led by General Abdourhamane Tchiani on July 26 had led to overthrow of Niger’s civilian and democratic government under President Mohammed Bazoun, who is currently held in military detention.
