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From President To Prison: Bazoum’s Year-Long Detention Sparks Legal And International Outcry
From President To Prison: Bazoum’s Year-Long Detention Sparks Legal And International OutcryIt has been a full year since the coup in Niger, and ex-President Mohamed Bazoum remains in strict custody in Niamey under the military regime currently in power. Concerns about a potential trial are growing among his supporters and close associates.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Recall that Bazoum was ousted on July 26, 2023, by General Abdourahamane Tiani, the leader of his presidential guard.
Elected in 2021, Bazoum has refused to resign and continues to assert his legitimacy as the president of Niger.
Since the coup, both Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza, have been confined to the presidential palace in Niamey. Bazoum’s last public appearance was on August 19, 2023, during a visit by a Nigerian mediator, which was broadcast nationally.
The conditions of their detention have deteriorated since then. In October, the military accused Bazoum of attempting to escape, an allegation denied by his legal team.
Bazoum’s phone has been confiscated, and only his doctor is permitted to visit him twice weekly.
Despite these harsh conditions, Bazoum remains steadfast. According to his communications advisor, Hamid N’Gade, Bazoum is in good physical health and maintains high spirits, showing no inclination to resign.
“Physically, they are doing well. Their morale is very high. The president remains committed to continuing his resistance.
“He is a man of strong convictions and a staunch republican. Resigning is out of the question for him,” said Hamid N’Gade, his communications advisor, to AFP.
He remains dedicated to resisting the military regime, seen by those close to him as a symbol of courage and democracy. His son, Salem Bazoum, who was initially detained with him, was provisionally released in January and has relocated to Togo.
Allegations Against Bazoum
Despite the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordering Bazoum’s release in mid-December, the military has ignored this directive, leading Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.
Last month, the military-established State Court revoked Bazoum’s presidential immunity. He faces charges of “conspiracy to attack the security and authority of the state” and “treason.”
The military accuses him of contacting French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek support for armed intervention during the coup.
Mohamed Seydou Diagne, one of Bazoum’s lawyers, argues that the court lacks legitimacy, as its members were appointed by a leader who was never formally sworn in.
“This court lacks legitimacy. Its members were appointed by a coup leader who was never sworn in,” said Mohamed Seydou Diagne, one of Bazoum’s lawyers.
Potential Trial
The removal of Bazoum’s immunity opens the door to a trial, although no date has been set. The charges carry severe penalties: treason could result in the death penalty by firing squad, while conspiracy against state authority could lead to life imprisonment.
“The crime of treason carries the death penalty, by firing squad, which remains in effect in Niger, although it has not been implemented for thirty years,” said Moussa Coulibaly, former president of the Niger Bar Association and one of Bazoum’s lawyers.
A trial would provide Bazoum with his first opportunity to publicly address the charges since the coup. However, Diagne criticized the process, describing it as an exceptional jurisdiction lacking fair trial guarantees. He called it a “mockery of justice” designed to secure Bazoum’s conviction.
“It will only be a mockery of justice, a continuation of what they have initiated. They are determined to convict him at any cost,” added Oumar Moussa, his deputy chief of staff.
Support for Bazoum
Initially, many Western leaders demanded Bazoum’s immediate release. ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions on Niger’s military rulers and even threatened military intervention to reinstate him. However, no intervention occurred, and sanctions were lifted in February.
In recent months, international calls for Bazoum’s release have waned. A French diplomatic source expressed concern about the pressures exerted by the junta and the impending “legal charade.”
An International Monetary Fund spokesperson, whose aid to Niger has resumed, declined to comment on Bazoum’s situation, citing non-interference in the political affairs of member states.
Rebel groups in Niger advocating for Bazoum’s return have recently claimed responsibility for attacks on a major oil pipeline.
The Supreme Court has effectively ended the legal dispute regarding the potential deregistration of the Action Peoples Party (APP), confirming its status as a legally registered political entity. A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice John Inyang Okoro, dismissed Appeal No. SC/CV/248/2026 on May 12, 2026, after the appellant, Mr. Blessing Elujiuba, chose to formally withdraw the case.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This ruling leaves the previous decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which favored the APP, final and binding. The initial legal challenge aimed to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the party, alleging it did not meet the requirements set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
The Court of Appeal in Owerri had previously dismissed these claims, with the court noting that the APP provided valid evidence of its electoral success, such as winning a councillorship seat in Jigawa State and victories in local government elections in Rivers State. The appellate judges also supported the interpretation that Section 225A should be read disjunctively, meaning a party only needs to meet one of the stipulated conditions to remain registered.
With this definitive ruling from the Supreme Court, the legal threats against the party’s leadership and its ability to participate in the 2027 general elections have been resolved in the party’s favor.
In their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 52 years, the Democratic Republic of Congo delivered a resilient performance to secure a 1-1 draw against Portugal in their Group K opener. This result adds to Portugal’s ongoing struggles in World Cup tournament debuts, marking only one victory in their last five opening matches.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Portugal initially took control when João Neves scored a header from a Pedro Neto cross just six minutes into the game. While Portugal sought to capitalize on their lead, the Leopards maintained defensive discipline and began to find their rhythm. DR Congo’s persistence was rewarded just before halftime when Yoane Wissa headed in a corner, marking the nation’s first-ever goal in World Cup history.
The second half saw Portugal attempt to increase the pressure, though a potential go-ahead goal from João Cancelo was overturned due to an offside call. Cristiano Ronaldo also had an opportunity to secure a victory but was unable to convert a pass from Francisco Conceição. Despite efforts from both teams to find a late winner, the match concluded in a stalemate.
This draw marks a notable improvement for DR Congo, who previously exited the tournament without a point or a goal in their last appearance. With upcoming matches against Colombia and Uzbekistan, the team now holds realistic ambitions of advancing to the knockout stages.
A Kogi State High Court, presided over by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, has sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death for his role in the kidnapping and murder of Uche Andrew Offo, a hotel owner in Obajana. Halilu was found guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping, in violation of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident occurred on March 23, 2023, when Halilu and an armed gang abducted Offo from his hotel, the Everready Hotel. Although Offo’s family paid a ₦2.5 million ransom, he was killed after recognizing Halilu—his own neighbour—among his abductors. Halilu was eventually arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 4, 2025, and was also linked to the April 2, 2023, kidnapping of Ibrahim Abdullahi in Lokoja, for which a ₦5 million ransom was paid.
This verdict is part of a series of recent major legal successes for the DSS:
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Owo Church Attack: On June 3, 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—to death for the 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, which resulted in over 40 deaths and 100 injuries.
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Katsina Arms Courier: Just 24 hours prior to the Kogi ruling, a Katsina State High Court sentenced a female arms courier apprehended by the DSS to death.
Security sources stated that these consecutive convictions serve as a strong message that those involved in terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime will be held accountable and face the full extent of the law.
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