By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The court of West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, on Friday ordered that the deposed leader of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum be immediately freed from detention by the military junta and reinstated as President
The court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital called for his “immediate and unconditional release”.
Following Bazoum’s ouster since July 26, he along with his wife and son are being held at the presidential palace in Niger’s capital.
It is not certain if the Abdourahamane Tchiani-led military junta will honour the ruling of the court as ECOWAS member states have in the past, ignored rulings from the court.
Niger has since been suspended from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and trade relations with member states cut.
“It is Mohamed Bazoum who represents the state of Niger… he remains president of the republic,” the court said in its ruling.
It added, “There are constitutional rights that have been violated.”
In mid-September, the deposed president appealed to the ECOWAS Court of Justice to obtain his release and the restoration of constitutional order in the country.
