ECOWAS decision to oust Gbagbo by legitimate force stands- Jonathan.
ECOWAS Chairman and Nigeria's President Dr Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday re-affirmed the Commission’s resolve to oust embattled former President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D’Ivoire by legitimate force if he fails to yield power peacefully.
He made the re-affirmation while addressing newsmen at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, shortly after he met with ECOWAS peace envoys to Cote D’Ivoire.
Jonathan said there was still political stalemate in Cote D’Ivoire in spite of the efforts of the ECOWAS peace envoys who had visited that country twice.
He declared We sent special envoys to Cote D'Ivoire to discuss with former president Gbagbo and the elected President Allasane Quattara.
The peace envoys, Presidents Paul Koroma of Sierra-Leone, Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, the Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga and the President of ECOWAS Commission, Victor Gbeho, briefed Jonathan on the outcome of the mission.
President Boni Yayi of the Republic of Benin is also a member of the peace envoys, while Odinga represents the African Union at their second mission.
At its extra-ordinary session in Abuja on Dec. 24, 2010 the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS had resolved that it would use legitimate force to oust Gbagbo if he failed to relinquish power peacefully.
It also promised to make an ultimate gesture to Gbabgo by facilitating a peaceful exit by dispatching a special high level delegation to Cote D’Ivoire.
Jonathan had told newsmen soon after he was briefed by the envoys on Dec. 28 on their inconclusive mission to Cote D'Ivoire, that they would return to that country to continue their negotiationon Jan. 3.
The presidential election was held in two rounds in Cote D’Ivoire, with the first round on Oct. 31 and the second, between Gbagbo and the opposition leader, Quattara on Nov. 28.
The Independent Electoral Commission on Dec. 2 released provisional results showing that Ouattara won the election in the second round with 54 per cent of the votes.
The country’s Constitutional Council, however, immediately declared that the results were invalid and announced Gbagbo as the winner.
Gbagbo has refused to cede power in spite of persuations from the international community, including the AU, ECOWAS, UN and the U.S..
The situation has led to a political stalemate, where two presidents are claiming legitimacy of the leadership of the country.
Post-election violence had also erupted in the country, resulting in the loss of 173 lives, according to the UN. ..........................................................
Nigeria signs UN anti-corruption agreement.
Nigeria has become the 53rd country to sign the UN agreement on the International Anti-Corruption Academy IACA.
IACA is a UN-related body set up as the focal point for international co-operation and co-ordination in the fight against corruption.
The Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal government in Vienna.
A statement from the Nigeria's Permanent Mission in Vienna quoted the minister as saying that the agreement was an evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to the attainment of zero tolerance for corruption.
Although Nigeria had established an effective institution such as the EFCC in the fight against corruption, Nigeria will take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Academy as a centre of training and academic research,’’ the minister said.
Also, the Chairman of IACA International Steering Committee, Martin Kreutner, who signed on behalf of the Academy, said he was delighted with Nigeria’s membership.
He said the Academy would support Nigeria in its fight against corruption.
The mandate of IACA, includes anti-corruption research, education and training and provision of relevant technical assistance in the fight against corruption.
The IACA has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
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Court adjourns Ogbulafor's criminal case indefinitely.
Justice Ishaq Bello of the FCT High Court on Tuesday adjourned indefinitely further hearing in the criminal case against former PDP Chairman Vincent Ogbulafor.
The judge had fixed Jan. 4, 5 and 6 for the trial in which Ogbulafor and three others were prosecuted by the ICPC for being allegedly involved in a N170 million fraud.
The others are Jude Nwokolo, Henry Ikoh and Emeka Emmanuel.
The adjournment followed an application filed by the ICPC's Counsel, Adegboye Awomolo, asking for a stay of proceedings in the case, pending the determination of a motion he filed at the Court of Appeal.
Awomolo had told the court that the ICPC was challenging Bello’s ruling granting Ogbulafor’s application for severance of trial, which he delivered on Dec. 14, 2010.
Challenging the motion, Counsel to Ogbulafor, Chief Joe Gadzama, told the court that the prosecution should have served the court with an order for a stay of proceedings.
He urged the judge to strike out the application and allow the case to continue, pending when the prosecution was able to produce an order from the Court of Appeal.
After listening to both sides, Bello said he had no choice, but to adjourn the case indefinitely.
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