The
Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, says it will on April 11 rule on whether it
has the jurisdiction to entertain a case brought before it by the former
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
This
is contained in a statement issued by the court in Abuja on Thursday.
The
case filed with the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/01/16 was brought before the Court
on Nov. 5, 2015, against the Federal Government.
According
to the statement, the court’s decision to rule on the case followed a
preliminary objection by the counsel to the defendant, Mr T. A. Gadzali.
In
the objection raised, Gadzali urged the court not to hear the substantive suit
filed by the applicant as the subject of the suit was based on contempt of the
order of Nigerian courts.
He
added that the only remedy was for the plaintiff to return to the country’s
court to commit the government for contempt.
The
counsel to the defendant also argued that a similar case was already pending
before a Nigerian court and could not therefore be entertained by the ECOWAS
Court.
In
response, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Robert Emukpoeruo, stated that a suit
could not only be filed before the ECOWAS Court if it were pending before an
international court.
Emukpoeruo
added that the suit was not founded on contempt but on the defendant’s abuse of
the applicant’s human rights.
The
applicant, in the suit filed, asked for N500 million as “compensatory damages”
against the government of Nigeria.
“This
is over his continued detention without charge, invasion of his residence and
seizure of his property despite being granted bail by courts of competent
jurisdiction.”
The
plaintiff, in the suit, also sought a declaration that his continued detention,
refusal to allow him travel for medical treatment and seizure of his properties
constitute a violation of his human rights.
“This
is as guaranteed under the country’s constitution’ and various international
instruments to which the country is signatory,” it stated.
Source: Vanguard
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