Daily Watch – Reps label Nigeria Air as fraudulent, Dutch court refuses Rwanda extradition request

Several Nigerian soldiers died in an attack on a military convoy in the Lake Chad region by jihadist fighters aligned with the Islamic State group, security forces said on Tuesday. The convoy was hit by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province outside the Northeastern village of Metele on Friday, leading to a battle where one jihadist was able to detonate a suicide vehicle amid the troops, the sources said. ISWAP, on Sunday, claimed responsibility for the ambush, which it said killed or wounded around 20 Nigerian soldiers, SITE Intelligence group reported. The military convoy was heading to the town of Arege, near the borders with Niger and Chad, to deliver food supplies to troops fighting the jihadists in the area, said the sources, who asked not to be named since they were not authorised to speak on the incident.

The House of Representatives has poked holes in the purported launch of Nigeria Air at the twilight of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, declaring it a fraud. Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, declared the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud after the major stakeholders in the deal between the federal government and Ethiopian Airlines denied knowledge of the launch. The Ministry of Aviation claimed Nigeria Air was only unveiled and not launched, which the committee dismissed as an attempt to divert the lawmakers’ attention. Members of the committee were shocked when NAMA disclosed that the aircraft bearing Nigerian colours was on a chartered flight to Nigeria. Other stakeholders who confirmed the disclosure noted that a chartered flight could be painted in any colour and with any inscriptions.

One of Ghana’s presidential staffers, George Atsu Egbenunya, has officially declared his support for former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen. With a resolute voice, Mr. Egbenunya urged members of the party to rally behind Kyerematen in its bid to break the eight-year power rotational cycle. In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Egbenunya emphasised his deep-rooted connection to the party as the son of the late R. K. Egbenunya, a founding member of the party from Hohoe Bla. Drawing upon his extensive experience within the party, including serving as a deputy regional youth organiser in the Volta Region, constituency organiser for two terms, youth organiser for one term, and an elected assembly member for the Bla electoral area, Mr. Egbenunya highlighted the importance of Kyerematen’s leadership in guiding the party towards victory. “After being in politics for 25 years, you know it is Alan Kyerematen who can lead the party to break the eight,” stated Mr. Egbenunya. Citing his understanding of the inner workings of the party, he stressed the urgent need for unity and endorsement of Kyerematen to secure success in the upcoming elections.

The Dutch Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a man facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide should not be extradited to Rwanda because it cannot be guaranteed his trial will be fair. In its judgement, the Supreme Court confirmed a lower court ruling of November last year that said extradition to Rwanda risked “a flagrant infringement of the right to a fair trial” for Pierre-Claver Karangwa because he is an opposition politician. The Dutch authorities, who have extradited at least three Rwandan genocide suspects to stand trial in Kigali since 2016, had appealed that decision but the appeal was denied by the Supreme Court. Karangwa, a former military official in his sixties, is accused of having a key role in the massacres of nearly 30,000 Tutsis in the Mugina parish near the Rwandan capital of Kigali in April 1994.