Economy
Court Dismisses Human Rights Violation Claim Against Nigeria: ECOWAS
Court Dismisses Human Rights Violation Claim Against Nigeria: ECOWAS
Court dismisses human rights violation claim against Nigeria. The court noted that the action was not for the benefit of the public, and the applicant didn’t demonstrate that the victims couldn’t be envisioned by the court.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed an alleged human rights violation suit filed by one Patrick Eholor, on behalf of Makia Media Limited, against the Federal Government.
The applicant had in suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/43/21, alleged that Nigeria’s broadcasting laws violated social media rights, human rights defenders, activists, bloggers, and journalists.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sengu Koroma, Judge Rapporteur, with Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding) and Dupe Atoki (member), dismissed the applicant’s claims and upheld the preliminary objection raised by Nigeria.
The court held that the applicant lacked the legal capacity to bring the matter before it as ‘actio popularis’ (public interest) suit.
According to the community court, the applicant also failed to present evidence mandating him to act in a representational capacity on behalf of Makia Media Limited.
It, therefore, declared the entire suit inadmissible “both as an actio popularis suit and a representational suit.”
“The reliefs sought must be exclusively for the benefit of the public to the exclusion of the personal interest of the applicant,” Justice Koroma held.
The court noted that it only had jurisdiction to entertain the case because it bordered on alleged human rights violations but pointed out that the case was inadmissible.
The court further held that although the applicant had jurisdiction to bring a claim for human rights violation as a corporate body, the suit neither met the requirement of ‘actio popularis’ principle.
According to the community court, the action was not for the benefit of the public, and the applicant did not demonstrate that the victims cannot be envisioned by the court.
Mr Eholor had in his submission argued that various Nigerian Broadcasting Code provisions were inconsistent with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and International Treaties and Conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The applicant had further claimed that in July 2020, the Respondent through the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) began implementation of repressive Sections of the Code, particularly Sections 5, 4 (1), (f) and 5 (4), (3).
He argued that NBC considered coverage on security issues as a threat to governance and engaged in arbitrary arrest and detention of media practitioners.
He further claimed that the respondent also failed to release public information sought by practitioners, which violated their rights to freedom of expression and information.
ECOWAS
Responding, Nigeria denied the applicant’s claims, arguing that no court had declared any section of the NBC Code as ambiguous or illegal and the applicant had not been prevented from exercising its rights within the limits of the law.
It added that the applicant was not at any time arrested or detained, and as a corporate body, lacked the capacity to sue for the violation of human rights.
The court, however, ordered Nigeria to pay an interlocutory cost of N250,000 to the applicant due to the respondent’s “tardiness” in the course of the matter.
Brazil Fines TikTok $30m Over Failure to Implement Child Safety
Brazil’s data protection agency on Tuesday fined TikTok nearly $30 million for failing to implement child safety measures in what it said was a “powerful signal” to social media companies.
Eereporter.com
Brazil has taken a tough stance on the regulation of social media platforms, cracking down on disinformation and requiring users under 16 years to have their accounts linked to those of their parents.
An enforcement director with the ANPD data protection agency, Fabricio Lopes, told a press conference that TikTok “was not taking the necessary measures to prevent adolescents from accessing the platform and from having the data of these children and adolescents processed.”
This data was “being used to offer advertising to adolescents.”
He said the fine of 153.7m reais ($29.9 million) was a “powerful signal to other platforms regarding how seriously the ANPD takes this work” and that the agency hoped they “get the message.”
TikTok agreed last week to pay $400m to settle a lawsuit with the US Department of Justice over claims that the video-sharing platform collected children’s personal data without parental permission.
– Tougher enforcement –
This month, the ANPD also ordered popular streaming platform Discord to suspend livestreams and video calls after a teenage girl was allegedly encouraged to take her own life during a broadcast.
The agency told AFP that an appeal filed by Discord on Monday against the suspension is under review.
ANPD director Lorena Coutinho said the agency had, last week, initiated proceedings to verify the compliance of 22 social media networks and platforms with a law passed this year to protect children and teens online.
In addition to the fine, the ANPD ordered TikTok parent company ByteDance to delete data collected in violation of regulations.
Coutinho said TikTok had committed to suspend all adverts for users who are not logged in.
TikTok has committed to “implementing a compliance plan to improve the protection of children and adolescents,” the ANPD said.
Brazil Fines TikTok
The platform will be required to automatically apply stricter privacy settings to accounts belonging to children under the age of 16, strengthen parental supervision systems, and implement stricter content filters.
TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP.
In 2024, the platform X was blocked for 40 days in Brazil, until the social media network owned by the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, complied with the Supreme Court’s orders to remove accounts spreading disinformation.
Eereporter.com
Economy
Umahi Leads the Way as Tinubu Orders Immediate Action on Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road Intervention
Umahi Leads the Way as Tinubu Orders Immediate Action on Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road Intervention
The Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has moved swiftly to address the worsening condition of the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti road in Ekiti and Kogi States, and Benin-Agbor-Asaba Roads following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for urgent intervention to ease the hardship being faced by motorists and commuters.
Eereporter.com
Umahi, who expressed deep concern over the deplorable condition of the road and the suffering of road users who have spent hours and, in some cases, days on the route, said the Federal Government was determined to take immediate corrective measures while working towards permanent solutions.
“President Tinubu, GCFR, has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene and ensure that necessary corrective actions are taken to restore movement on the affected roads as quickly as possible.” Said Umahi
The Minister, in response to the directive, has already set machinery in motion for immediate action.
As part of the intervention, Umahi directed the Minister of State for Works to lead a team of ministry officials to the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti axis to assess the situation and commence urgent remedial works.
The assignment is already on as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with officials of the Ministry on the ground to begin the intervention.
While the intervention team moved into Ekiti and Kogi States, Umahi himself headed to Benin, Edo State, alongside members of the National Assembly Works Committees, to initiate a similar coordinated intervention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road.
The Benin meeting is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the Edo and Delta State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with the aim of finding immediate solutions to the challenges confronting motorists on the strategic corridor.
Umahi also took responsibility for the unfortunate situation on the affected roads and apologised to commuters who have been stranded or delayed for several hours and days.
Benin-Agbor-Asaba
He assured road users that the Federal Government’s response would go beyond temporary relief, with immediate measures being pursued alongside permanent solutions to restore the affected roads and improve their long-term reliability.
Francis Nwaze
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
August 25, 2026
Eereporter.com
Economy
NNPC Cares: Boost for Nationwide Medical Access as NMSL Deploys Laparoscopic Instrument in Abuja
NNPC Cares: Boost for Nationwide Medical Access as NMSL Deploys Laparoscopic Instrument in Abuja
NNPC Medical Services Limited (NMSL) has deployed articulating laparoscopic instruments at its main hospital in Utako, Abuja. The machine is an advanced surgical equipment designed to enhance precision and flexibility during laparoscopic procedures.
Eereporter.com
The latest deployment widens the range of procedures available at the medical facility and represents a boost for healthcare access in the country.
NNPC
Acting Managing Director / Chief Operating Officer, NMSL, Dr. Dickson Bada, received the equipment from SQI Limited, represented by Dr. Emmanuel Otitoloju.
NNPC Limited continues to invest in its medical facilities, which are open to the public nationwide, towards improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Eereporter.com
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