Adedokun Waliyu 
Niger Republic’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, is planning to institute a legal action against some West African countries that allegedly supported a coup de tat that took over his government in July.
This was confirmed by Bazoum’s lawyers, adding that they are appealing to the UN Human Rights Council for their intervention to secure the immediate release of their client, according to AFP.
The lawsuit, obtained on Monday, is directed at General Abdourahamane Tiani and “all others.”
It is a civil lawsuit that asserts attacks and conspiracies against state authority, crimes and offences committed by civil servants, and arbitrary arrests and confinements.
It is anticipated to be filed with a court in the capital Niamey in the coming days, according to one of the lawyers, Dominique Inchauspe.
The lawyers also stated that they would appeal to two UN Human Rights Council groups, including its working group on arbitrary detention.
Inchauspe called the coup an infringement on the dignity of the Nigerien state and emphasised the “absolute necessity of restoring the rule of law.
Recall that Bazoum filed a lawsuit with a court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18, his Senegalese lawyer, Seydou Diagne, said.
He has been held in his residence since the coup.
On August 13, the coup leaders said they would pursue Bazoum for “high treason”.
Also, It was earlier reported that Bazoum was being kept isolated and forced to eat dry rice and pasta by the military junta that overthrew him.
The coup leaders have refused to cede power despite international pressure.
