Tag: European Union

“ICC warrants binding; EU cannot pick and choose” – EU’s foreign policy chief

Aminu Imam
EU's foreign policy chief

European governments cannot pick and choose whether to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against two Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander, the EU’s foreign policy chief said, on Saturday. Recall that the ICC issued the warrants on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged crimes against humanity. All EU member States are signatories to the ICC’s founding treaty, called the Rome Statute. Several EU States have said they will meet their commitments…

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EU fines Meta $840m for ‘abusive’ Facebook ad practices

Aminu Imam
EU fines Meta

The European Commission, (EU), yesterday fined online giant, Meta almost 800 million Euros for breaching anti-trust rules by giving users of its Facebook social network automatic access to classified ads service, Facebook Marketplace. According to the EU, the US tech titan also abused its dominant position by imposing unfair trading conditions on other online classified ads service providers that advertise on its platforms. In an issued statement, the bloc’s Competition Chief, Margrethe Vestager said, “This is illegal under EU antitrust rules. Meta must now stop this behaviour”. Meta said it…

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Niger Republic: EU agrees on sanctions framework

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

European Union countries on Monday adopted a framework to impose sanctions on members of a junta that seized power in Niger. The EU Council said the new framework would allow the EU to sanction individuals and entities responsible for actions that threaten the peace, stability and security of Niger. It added that the framework would also undermine the constitutional order, or constitute serious violations to human rights or international humanitarian law. According to the EU, it aims to mirror and strengthen any measures taken by the West African regional body…

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2023 Elections: Keyamo, Fani-Kayode promoted fake news– EU Report

Aminu Imam

The European Union Election Observation Mission has alleged that a former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode promoted fake news during the 2023 general elections. The EU Observers made this allegation in latest report on the 2023 general elections, copy of which has been submitted to the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume. It accused Keyamo and Fani-Kayode of misleading Nigerians by spreading fake news during the 2023 general elections. The EU Observers cited instances where…

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FG rejects EU’s verdict on 2023 general elections

Aminu Imam

The Bola Tinubu-led federal government has rejected the European Union (EU)’s verdict on the recently concluded 2023 General Elections. The announcement came through a press release by the Special Adviser to the President, Dele Alake, yesterday evening. The Federal Government said it had previously alerted the nation to the intentions of a continental multi-lateral institution to discredit the 2023 general elections. Although not explicitly named in the earlier statement, the government said it was made clear that the foreign institution had persistently attacked the credibility of the electoral process and…

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2023 Polls: EU debunks call for INEC Chairman’s sacking

Aminu Imam

The European Union (EU) in Nigeria has debunked a report that the Commission, in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) are calling for the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. In a letter, which is currently circulating on social media, the EU was said to have noted that the Saturday’s election were marred by numerous cases of electoral malpractice, lack of transparency and constitutional operational failures in a clear violation of democratic principles . However, the…

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EU Observation Mission condemns violence hours to elections

Aminu Imam

The European Union Observation Mission (EU-EOM) to the 2023 General Elections has condemned the recent act of violence in the country. In an issued statement in Abuja yesterday, the EU EOM singled out the recent politically-linked assassination in some parts of the country leading up to election day. The EU EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, urged all electoral stakeholders to engage in a manner that reflects the spirit of the Peace Accord signed on Feb. 22. Andrews urged the candidates, political parties, their supporters and all Nigerians to act responsibly…

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2023 Election: “We won’t violate our oath of neutrality during polls” – EU mission 

Aminu Imam

The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) says election observers will not violate their oath to remain neutral in Nigeria. On Sunday, the EU-EOM led by Robert Hall and Diana Ferrari visited Olumba-Olumba Obu, the founder of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, (BCS), in Calabar, Cross-River State capital. Speaking during the visit, Hall said the team would observe the polls in Cross-River and Akwa-Ibom States. He said the mission would maintain neutrality while observing the elections. On his part, Obu assured the EU delegates of safety throughout…

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2023: EU Election Observer Mission to deploy 100 observers

Aminu Imam

…Says it won’t interfere with process The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) is set to deploy about 100 observers for the coming general elections in Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the EU-EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, said the observers would be deployed to all of Nigeria’s 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, on election day. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled 25 February for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and 11 March for the Governorship and States Houses of…

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Independence: EU, UK reiterates support for Nigeria’s democracy

Aminu Imam

The European Union (EU) and the British High Commission in Nigeria have reiterated their commitment to support Nigeria’s democracy as the nation turned 62 years after independence. The envoys made the commitment on Saturday, at Nigeria’s 62 independence anniversary celebration in Abuja. The Ambassador of the EU to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi, said Nigeria is a work-in-progress, just like any country in the world, saying, “No country is where they want to be, it is always a work in progress for every country and I think Nigeria…

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