Due to a delay, the Dassault Falcon 7X, with registration number 5N-FGU, took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 4.18 p.m. while its scheduled departure time (STD) was 3 p.m.
At the time this report was filed, it was unable to determine the cause of the delay. The plane is anticipated to land at Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 10.42 p.m., SaharaReporters has learned.
In the past six days, the airplane has traveled to Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri, Kano, and Gombe before landing in Abuja around 6 p.m. on Saturday.
It is also unknown why the Nigerian Air Force plane flew to Paris or who was on board, but SaharaReporters has learned that it may be related to the political unrest in the Republic of Niger following the July 26 coup d’état that toppled Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s democratically elected president.
Given Niger’s proximity to Nigeria, many Nigerians have pleaded with the government of that country to refrain from engaging in any military action there. There are rumors that France and the United States of America are pressuring the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including Nigerian President Tinubu, to consider military action if ongoing negotiations fail.
The ECOWAS, which is led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, has imposed sanctions on Niger and demanded that the country’s deposed leader be reinstated, but the military coup in the nation has thus far called ECOWAS’ bluff.
Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, told media on Friday that the West African group was committed to making sure that coups wouldn’t become routine in the area.
As a result, Touray urged the Niger junta to change its mind, saying, “Even now, it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d’etat.”
“The actual problem is the community’s resolve to stop the coup d’etat cycle in the area,”
According to Touray, using force does not constitute a “invasion” of Niger or a declaration of war.
He said that such an intervention would fall under the ECOWAS statutes, which the members had approved, as a lawful use of force.
On Thursday, Tinubu said he was managing a serious situation regarding the coup d’etat in the Niger Republic and was struggling to prevent those in the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and those outside of ECOWAS control from worsening the political situation in Niger.
In a statement released by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu urged a group of Islamic scholars (Ulamas) who had been in talks to help the ousted Bazoum regain constitutional authority to move more quickly in their ongoing discussions with the Niger military junta.
“I’m in charge of something pretty significant. Other people, those who are not under our control, will react if you ignore ECOWAS. I’m the one restraining those sides. I am ECOWAS’s biggest obstacle.
Even as of this morning, I had a ton of phone calls about how prepared various nations were with their military resources and contributions. I advised them to hold off, though. The Nigerian President stated, “I am meeting with the Ulamas and I will get back to you.
Tinubu made his statement shortly after receiving a report on his discussions with the junta in Niger from the Islamic clerics operating under the Ulama umbrella.
To continue their discussions with the coup leaders and end the political crisis in the nation, Tinubu on Thursday ordered them to return to Niamey, the capital of Niger.
