Mohamed Bazoum’s lawyers ask regional court to reinstate him

Lawyers for ousted Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum have asked an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court to reinstate him as president.

According to the lawyers, “the detention and overthrow of Mr Bazoum violated his rights.”

Bazoum has been held since soldiers seized power on July 26, accusing him of failing to contain mounting insecurity in the region.

One of the lawyers calls for the immediate and unconditional release as well as the reinstatement to the presidency of ousted President Bazoum.

A lawyer for the Niger junta, Aissatou Zada, told the court that Bazoum, his wife and son were not arbitrarily detained or sequestrated. He said they were free to come and go as they wished, but the president was held at home for his own security.