By Beatrice Oppon
The ECOWAS Court sitting in Accra has dismissed an allegation of human rights violation against the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the ECOWAS Commission. It was dismissed on grounds that the application was not admissible.
The suit was filed by a former Attorney General of Guinea Bissau, Bacar Biai.
The Court held that the respondents are not the proper parties in a claim for the violation of human rights.
The applicant’s claim for an order directing the respondents to pay him three billion CFA francs for damages was also dismissed.
The applicant Bacar Biai claimed that the Authority of Heads of State and Government mandated the ECOWAS Commission to apply sanctions against some persons including him in 2018.
He averred a travel ban was imposed on him and his family. In view of the sanctions, his right to free movement, hold public office and access to his bank account were all denied.
He also claimed he was denied his right to be heard. He was therefore praying g the court to order the Respondents to reinstate him as Attorney General of Guinea Bissau.
The Respondents however argued that the Court was incompetent to grant the reliefs sought by the applicant because they only exercised their political powers of imposing sanctions on deserving persons to protect national security interests, international law, and also defend threats to international peace and security.
It was also the Respondents case that the sanctions imposed on the Applicant and the others were the best alternative international tool and that there was no real case of violation of the Applicant’s human rights.
The Court dismissing the suit as inadmissible, also declined to award costs.