Dailytab24
AFRICA: Nigerien military ruled government is on the last lap of effort to imprison its deposed former President, which has been the target of the military-controlled Sahel country.
The military took over the country on July 2023, after it carried out a successful coup. The coup eneded Bazoum’s reign, who came into power in 2021.
Niger has been a country under arms, either controlled by military or infested with insecurity perpetrated by armed groups.
The latest coup in the country received maximum support of Nigeriens, now they are determined to nail Bazoum for corruption and espionage.
The country’s newly created top court ruled that Bazoum now has no immunity, and by virtue of the ruling, the deposed democratic President is at the mercy of the mutinous soldiers who for long sought to try him in a court.
The battle to strip him of his immunity has been raging for almost one year, since his house arrest.
The ruling was handed down by Abdou Dan Galadima, the president of the State Court. The court is Niger’s highest court that was formed by the military in November.
The formation of the top court is solely to be used to secure ruling for the final nailing of the deposed President the military-government fears his influence can be a threat to Niger under military rule.
The court made the ruling on Friday, which now puts an end to a trial riddle with irregularities.
The deposed President is accused of betraying the country by speaking with French President, Emmanuel Macron and Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, to involve them in the internal affairs of the country. Bazoum made the call to the Western leaders to intervene in the coup that toppled him.
Bazoum did not call ECOWAS, the bloc threatened to deal with the mutinous soldiers, but withdrew from making real the threats after other military-ruled African countries declared support for Niger.
Trilateral security agreement was signed to wade off military threat of ECOWAS. Niger’s military government did not speak about ECOWAS unsuccessful intervention.
ECOWAS legal arm waded into the matter and ruled that Bazoum is being held illegally by the mutinous soldiers, and called for his release and reinstatement.
The ruling was not enforced as the military government waved aside the order. They later stated that Niger is a sovereign country that will not be dictated to.
The exit of the country from ECOWAS made implementation of the ruling even harder. Strict sanctions were announced against Niger but were later lifted. The support the coup had in the country contributed to the survival of the coup.
The trial leading to the ruling was said to be bias, with Bazoum’s lawyers complaining about illegal treatment of their client.
The court did not allow Bazoum present evidences, thereby hampering his defence. the ruling was made despite the outcry from Human Right Watch and other Human Right groups that monitored the trial.
Bazoum’s defense team has said they would speak on the ruling, as they see no hope of getting justice from local court.
Bazoum is a friend of the West, who gave France and United States base in the Sahel country to fight insurgents.
As the first ever democratic President since 1960, US and France showed commitment to his government, but that commitment is now his undoing.
