Tensions are escalating between Niger's new military regime and the West African regional bloc that has ordered the deployment of troops to restore Niger's flailing democracy.

The ECOWAS bloc said on Thursday it had directed a “standby force” to restore constitutional order in Niger after its Sunday deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum expired.

Hours earlier, two Western officials told The Associated Press that Niger’s junta had told a top U.S. diplomat they would kill Bazoum if neighboring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule.

It's unclear when or where the force will deploy and which countries from the 15-member bloc would contribute to it. Conflict experts say it would likely comprise some 5,000 troops led by Nigeria and could be ready within weeks.

After the ECOWAS meeting, neighboring Ivory Coast’s president, Alassane Ouattara, said his country would take part in the military operation, along with Nigeria and Benin.

“Ivory Coast will provide a battalion and has made all the financial arrangements ... We are determined to install Bazoum in his position. Our objective is peace and stability in the sub-region,” Ouattara said on state television.

Niger, an impoverished country of some 25 million people, was seen as one of the last hopes for Western nations to partner with in beating back a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that's ravaged the region. France and the United States have more than 2,500 military personnel in Niger and together with other European partners had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up its military.

The junta responsible for spearheading the coup, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, has exploited anti-French sentiment among the population to shore up its support.

On Thursday night after the summit, France's foreign ministry said it supported “all conclusions adopted.” U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country appreciated “the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis” and would hold the junta accountable for the safety and security of President Bazoum. However, he did not specify whether the U.S. supported the deployment of troops.

The mutinous soldiers that ousted Bazoum more than two weeks ago have entrenched themselves in power, appear closed to dialogue and have refused to release the president. Representatives of the junta told U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland of the threat to Bazoum's life during her visit to the country this week, a Western military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

A U.S. official confirmed that account, also speaking on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

“The threat to kill Bazoum is grim,” said Alexander Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati. There have been unwritten rules until now about how overthrown presidents will be treated and violence against Bazoum would evoke some of the worst coups of the past, he said.

Human Rights Watch said Friday that it had spoken to Bazoum, who said that his 20-year-old son was sick with a serious heart condition and has been refused access to a doctor. The president said he hasn't had electricity for nearly 10 days and isn't allowed to see family, friends or bring supplies into the house.

It's unclear if the threat on Bazoum's life would change ECOWAS' decision to intervene military. It might give them pause, or push the parties closer to dialogue, but the situation has entered uncharted territory, analysts say.

“An ECOWAS invasion to restore constitutional order into a country of Niger’s size and population would be unprecedented,” said Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Niger has a fairly large and well-trained army that, if it actively resisted an invasion, could pose significant problems for ECOWAS. This would be a very large and significant undertaking, he said.

While the region oscillates between mediation and preparing for war, Nigeriens are suffering the impact of harsh economic and travel sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.

Before the coup, more than 4 million Nigeriens were reliant on humanitarian assistance and the situation could become more dire, said Louise Aubin, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Niger.

“The situation is alarming. ... We’ll see an exponential rise and more people needing more humanitarian assistance," she said, adding that the closure of land and air borders makes it hard to bring aid into the country and it’s unclear how long the current stock will last.

Aid groups are battling restrictions on multiple fronts.

ECOWAS sanctions have banned the movement of goods between member countries, making it hard to bring in materials. The World Food Program has some 30 trucks stuck at the Benin border unable to cross. Humanitarians are also trying to navigate restrictions within the country as the junta has closed the airspace, making it hard to get clearance to fly the humanitarian planes that transport goods and personnel to hard-hit areas.

Flights are cleared on a case-by-case basis and there’s irregular access to fuel, which disrupts aid operations, Aubin said.

The U.N. has asked ECOWAS to make exceptions to the sanctions and is speaking to Niger’s foreign ministry about doing the same within the country.

[Time.com]

A Nigerian bank director managed to outsmart a major local bank out of a whopping  £200 million - just by telling the bank he needed the millions to build an airport.

Emmanuel Nwude is actually the former director of the Union Bank of Nigeria - but he channelled his expertise in a less than ethical way, when he called up a Brazilian bank director on behalf of another huge banking figure.

Nwude called Nelson Sakaguchi, of Brazil's Banco Noroeste - and pretended to be the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Paul Ogwuma when asking for a huge sum to build an airport.

Shockingly, MailOnline learns that this individual phone call was enough to fulfil Mr Nwude's requests, and Sakaguchi put full faith in the Nigerian bank director.

Without completing any background checks, Sakaguchi approved Nwude's demand - but only if he'd get a huge £8m in commission from the new airport - that was never due to be built anyway.

Over a three year period - 1995-1998 - the Brazilian banker paid innocently paid Nwude and his associates a huge sum of approximately £190m - all for the airport that nobody had bothered to check existed.

But one day, in 1997, the Brazilian bank was examining its expenses ahead of being bought by the multinational financial company Santander and noticed that almost half of their money was marinating in the Cayman Islands, a notorious tax haven.

Alarm bells finally started to ring, and Banco Noroeste was let wondering how this all went under the radar.

This instigated legal proceedings which showed that Nwude had in fact defrauded the Brazilian bank of the generous £190m, over the three year period.

Unfortunately, Banco Noroeste was so good-natured that its bank owners ended up paying the costs out of their own pocket, just so Nwude's sale would be successful - before its 2001 collapse. 

Nwude and his associates were taken to court years later, in 2004 and they were chucked out and rearrested, before facing charges in another court. 

The fraudsters decided to plead not guilty to over a hundred counts of fraud.

Things got even worse when Nwude tried to get himself out of trouble by bribery, paying £60k when one of his accomplices admitting their wrongdoing.

Despite being another large sum, his bribe was refused - and the trial even got Sakaguchi in as a witness for this, scaring the fraudster into confessing to his crimes.

He ended up pleading guilty in a bid to bag a lighter sentence.

Emmanuel Nwude was sentenced to 25 years for fraud - but was released from prison in 2006. 

Now this type of scam is affectionately referred to as a 419 scam, and Nwude contributed to one of the biggest financial frauds in history. 

[dailymail]

After defaulting for several years, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the Consolidated Financial Statements for seven years, the first time it will do so since 2015.

he Consolidated Financial Statements, which were released by the CBN on its website, are for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 financial periods.

The apex bank also declared a profit after tax of N103.8bn in 2022, up from N75.13bn reported a year earlier.

The bank also revealed that it owes JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs a combined sum of $7.5bn as of the financial year ended December 2022, and another $6.3 billion included as liabilities owned in foreign currency forwards.

The apex bank, however, stated it owes Goldman Sachs $500 million and JP Morgan $7 billion in what it classified as securities lending.

The 2022 financial statement reads, “The Group entered into a securities lending agreement with Goldman Sachs and J. P. Morgan and as part of the agreement, the Group pledged its holdings on foreign securities in return for cash. The cash received from Goldman Sachs is N0.23tn ($500m), 2021: N0.22tn ($500m), and JP Morgan N3.23tn ($7bn), 2021: N3.05tn ($7bn) is recognised in other foreign securities.”

According to the financial statements, securities lending forms part of the CBN’s total external reserves of about N14.3tn or $29bn using the official exchange rate of N494/$1 as of 2022.

The apex bank, however, also owes another N3.15tn ($6.3bn) in foreign currency forward which are forex obligations it needs to make to foreign investors.

Ripples Nigeria reports that the suspended CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, had come under attack for not releasing the financial statements to the public.

The action of Emefiele is in gross violation of the CBN Act.

According to the CBN Act 2007, the apex bank is expected to publish its report within two months after the end of each financial year.

The financial statements uploaded on the CBN website is an indication that the apex bank, under the leadership of acting Governor Folashodun Shonubi, is ready to open its book to public scrutiny.

[RipplesNigeria]

A Nigerian missionary priest working in Gambia, Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, has told his followers that prayers do not fix refineries or stabilise the nation’s economy.

Ugwu made the assertion in a post via his verified Facebook page on Friday.

The cleric said that the reason some church ministers and priests, including him, kept advocating for good governance is because people continuously ask them to pray and give them hope and encouragement to withstand the difficulty and hunger in the country.

According to him, bad government policy could make situations even worse.

He wrote, “This situation in which you ask church ministers or priests to continuously pray and give people hope and encouragement to withstand the difficulty and hunger in the country is the reason we kept advocating for good governance. Because, in truth, prayers do not fix refineries or stabilize your economy. You can organize a 10-day crusade on liberating people from poverty and granting them open doors, you may fast and shout all night, but just one ‘agbado’ policy implemented. . .you will watch how those whose doors were already opened no longer see even windows to pass through.”

[DailyPost]

The Indian government on Friday issued an advisory urging all Indian citizens in Niger to leave the African nation as soon as possible due to the prevailing conditions. Additionally, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recommended that Indian nationals should reconsider their travel plans until the situation stabilizes.

During a media briefing, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the MEA, said, "The Government of India is closely monitoring the unfolding developments in Niger. Given the current circumstances, Indian nationals whose presence is non-essential are advised to leave the country as soon as possible.

It's important to note that airspace is currently closed. If departing through land borders, they should take utmost precautions to ensure their safety and security." by TaboolaSponsored Links You don't know that your blood vessels are clogged: do this Cardiology in Nigeria Learn More Affordable Solar Panels (See Prices By Clicking Here) Solar Panels | Search Ads Arindam Bagchi Turkey Earthquake: Powerful Quake Strikes Malatya, Injuring 23 He further added, "Those who have plans to travel to Niger in the upcoming days are also advised to postpone their travel until the situation returns to normal."

Recommended Video China arrests one of its citizens for allegedly spying for CIA Tensions have risen between Niger's newly established military regime and the West African regional bloc due to the latter's decision to deploy troops in order to restore Niger's struggling democracy.

SC Grants Interim Bill To Former Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik The ECOWAS bloc recently announced that it has instructed a 'standby force' to reinstate constitutional order in Niger after the Sunday deadline for the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum had passed.

According to reports, two Western officials mentioned that Niger's junta had conveyed to a senior US diplomat their intention to harm Bazoum should neighboring countries attempt any military intervention to reinstate his leadership.

The details of the force's deployment, participating countries from the 15-member bloc, and the timeline remain uncertain. Experts suggest that it could consist of around 5,000 troops led by Nigeria and could potentially be operational within a few weeks.

Big Changes In Indian Criminal Laws: Key Points From Amit Shah's Speech Meanwhile, the president of neighboring Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, affirmed after the ECOWAS meeting that his country would participate in the military operation, alongside Nigeria and Benin.

"Ivory Coast will contribute a battalion and has made all necessary financial arrangements...

Our goal is to reinstate Bazoum in his rightful position. We are committed to achieving peace and stability in the sub-region," Ouattara stated on state television, as reported by the Associated Press.

The African Union has pledged support to the West African community of nations, ECOWAS. The union’s chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat ,in a statement ,said he stands behind the group’s response to the coup in Niger.

After a key summit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Thursday, ECOWAS instructed its military chiefs to put together an intervention force for a possible deployment in Niger ,but stressed that the key priority was to move forward by peaceful means.

Mahamat also reiterated his call for the immediate release of ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum and all members of his family and government.

“Such treatment of a democratically elected president .. is unacceptable, he said.

He added that Bazoum was being held in “worryingly poor conditions.”

On July 26, officers of the presidential guard in Niger ousted Bazoum.

The commander of the elite unit, Abdourahamane Tchiani, subsequently appointed himself the new ruler and dissolved the constitution.

Bazoum and his family have been held in his residence for over two weeks now.

In the so-called “coup belt” of the Sahel region, Niger had been the exception to the rule, with its democratic government representing one of the last strategic partners of the West in the fight against Islamic terrorists in the region.

The international community has condemned the coup and pushed the coup leaders to restore order and hand power back.

[Guardian]

It was disappointing, but Lauren will learn from it. As a young player, she will take a lot from this situation and I just hope people let it go.

You can’t condone it, because no one can do that on the pitch, but we all make mistakes. No one is perfect. Football is an emotional game and her emotion just got the better of her.

But we can’t all cling on to it. We have to let it go — and so do England. Colombia will not be an easy game and, like Nigeria, it is one of those matches where you just need to ignore the world rankings.

Nigeria were better than England in every department. They were excellent in stopping us and I think Sarina Wiegman needs to freshen up her team on Saturday.

I thought some players looked a little bit tired and leggy on Monday, and Ella Toone is one of those I would bring back into the side.

Beth England is another I would start, up top instead of Alessia Russo, and I would have Chloe Kelly out wide with Lauren Hemp.

It might be best for England to revert back to what they know with the formation and play with a back four instead of a three.

That’s how the Lionesses started against Haiti and this Colombia game could well be similar.

England need to take the game to Colombia and try to impose themselves, press high and put pressure on their backline. They cannot afford to sit back.

England need to make sure they have some impact players from the bench, which is why it is not bad having Alessia there.

I thought before the Nigeria game it might be best not to start Lauren, and people looked at me like I was crazy. But I just felt it wasn’t a bad idea, simply because the Lionesses need substitutes who can make a difference.

You need players who can come on and hurt teams in those final 20 minutes, and that will be the case on Saturday

[Evening Standard]

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken receipt of some tools and systems from the European Union aimed at enhancing in the country’s electoral system.

The INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, delivering a speech on Thursday at a handover event in Abuja, noted that there were several components under the Phase II Project.

He stated that the first components focused on support to INEC administered through the Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI).

“This support is designed to address 5 thematic areas i.e. enhancing and strengthening planning and operational capacities; (and) improving the Commission’s internal communication and external engagements with stakeholders,” Yakubu said.

Other areas, according to the INEC chairman, include enhancing the Electoral Institute’s capacity for training and research; assisting in the improvement of legal and policy frameworks for the conduct of elections; and enhancing the development and incorporation of technological innovations.

“Within the current Electoral Cycle, DAI has provided support towards capacity building, technical support, printing of non-sensitive reports and information flyers,” he said.

“We are glad that today, some of the tools developed in collaboration with DAI are being handed over to the Commission.”

See the full statement below:

REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AT THE HANDOVER OF THE INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS, FACILITATED BY DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES INCORPORATED (DAI), HELD AT THE INEC CONFERENCE ROOM, ABUJA, ON THURSDAY 10TH AUGUST 2023

The Acting Head of Development Cooperation of the European Union Delegation Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera
The Team Leader and other officials of Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI)
National Commissioners
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this presentation. It is appropriate to start by appreciating the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN). Under the Phase II Project, there are several components, the first of which focuses on support to INEC administered through the Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI). This support is designed to address 5 thematic areas i.e. enhancing and strengthening planning and operational capacities; improving the Commission’s internal communication and external engagements with stakeholders; enhancing The Electoral Institute’s capacity for training and research; assisting in the improvement of legal and policy frameworks for the conduct of elections; and enhancing the development and incorporation of technological innovations.

2. Within the current Electoral Cycle, DAI has provided support towards capacity building, technical support, printing of non-sensitive reports and information flyers. We are glad that today, some of the tools developed in collaboration with DAI are being handed over to the Commission. Among these are:

 

i. the Collation and Returning Officers Management System (CROMS) intended to streamline, simplify and enhance the security, reliability and credibility of the recruitment process for collation and returning officers;

ii. the Election Results Management System (ERMS) which seeks to ensure a better results management process, enhancing accuracy and creating a repository of election results, something envisaged by Section 62 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022;

iii. the Media Monitoring and Analysis Tool intended to enhance the Commission’s capacity to filter media coverage of the Commission; and

iv. the Political Parties Financial Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) seeks to assist the Commission to monitor political party finance more efficiently and effectively.

3. In developing these tools, DAI consultants worked closely with the Technical Team and Directing Staff of the Commission. The tools sought to respond to specific challenges encountered in the implementation of electoral activities, thereby bringing technology to enhance the Commission’s operational effectiveness. The tools therefore offer innovative solutions that could foster efficiency, speed, due diligence, and trust in the electoral process.

4. The tools were not specifically designed for a particular electoral cycle hence their utility to future elections and electoral activities. In fact, the support to INEC under EU-SDGN Phase II covers the period 2022-2027 traversing two electoral cycles (2023 and 2027) and includes support to the National Assembly and the Judiciary, Political Parties, the Media, Civil Society organisations and the promotion of inclusivity (women, youth and persons with disability). The Commission will closely examine these tools with a view of adopting or tweaking them where necessary to meet the immediate and emergent challenges in the conduct of elections.

5. I would like to thank DAI and the EU-SDGN Project Phase II. The Commission is open to future collaboration with the EU through its implementing partners. I must also continue to emphasise that core electoral activities are still funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria as a sovereign responsibility. It is only funding from Government that is received and administered directly by the Commission.

6. Once again, I welcome you to the Commission and we look forward to the presentations and discussion.

[Channels TV]

The African Union on Friday expressed “deep concern at the reported poor conditions” of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum’s detention, calling his treatment at the hands of coup leaders “unacceptable”.

“Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable,” AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement after Bazoum was overthrown by military chiefs last month.