The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has ruled that the Nigerian government committed human rights abuses during its response to the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.
The court on Wednesday held that the government violated the Human Rights of Obianuju Udeh, a.k.a. DJ Switch, and two other #EndSARS protesters.
It also ordered payment of N2m as compensation for the rights violations and mandated the prosecution of the responsible security agents, directing the government to report within six months on the measures taken to implement the judgment. Ruling on Wednesday, the court held that the government’s actions, particularly the excessive use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, violated several international human rights standards.
The court specified that the Nigerian government breached articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
As a result, the court ordered the Nigerian government to pay N2 million in compensation to each victim named in the lawsuit.
The Buhari-led government on October 20, 2020, deployed the military to Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State to protesters who had camped at the venue for days.
Several human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, said dozens of protesters were killed in the process in what they dubbed as “Lekki Massacre.”
The federal government and the military have consistently denied allegations.
Reacting to the judgment, Bolaji Gabari, lead counsel for the applicants, described the ruling as a significant victory for the #EndSARS movement, an acknowledgement that citizens’ rights were violated and that abuses occurred at Lekki tollgate.
“We urge the Nigerian government to comply fully with the court’s orders and take immediate steps to address the systemic issues identified in the judgment,” Gabari said.
Mojirayo Ogunlana, another counsel to the applicants recalled that the Nigerian government failed to show up to put in a defence until 2023, when, in its address, it claimed, amongst others, that the #EndSARS peaceful protest was unlawful and perpetuated by hoodlums.
“The landmark ruling by the ECOWAS Court in favour of #EndSARS victims is a powerful affirmation of justice and a significant step towards healing and accountability for the Lekki Tollgate tragedy,” added Nelson Olanipekun, Executive Director at Gavel, coordinating organisation for the coalition.
On 20 October 2020, peaceful and unarmed protesters were fired at by Nigerian security agents at the Lekki tollgate, bringing the landmark #EndSARS protests to a violent end.
The protest had begun organically in Delta State 17 days earlier, expanding to other parts of the country with calls for justice against police brutality in Nigeria.
In December 2021, three victims brought a case before the ECOWAS Court, Obianuju Catherine & 2 Others v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (ECW/CCJ/APP/72/2021), to seek justice for themselves and those impacted by the violations.
